Gold is recognised around the world as a precious metal, but nowhere is it more highly prized than the medical sector. The medical industry depends on gold plated components for a wide range of procedures and applications.
Here at Karas Plating, we have provided high-quality gold plating solutions to clients across the industry for years, so it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about the process. So what makes gold such a key consideration for medical equipment?
Let’s take a look…
The benefits of gold plating for medical devices
Gold isn’t valued solely for its rarity. It possesses several unique properties that offer dozens of practical advantages over cheaper metals, particularly when looking at medical use.
Malleability
Medical devices often require complex precision components. These demand a soft, malleable metal – one that can be accurately shaped during the plating process. Gold is perfect for this, resulting in high performance medical components.
Excellent corrosion resistance
Few metals are more resistant to corrosion than gold. Not only does it not oxidise in the air, most acids won’t affect it either. This makes gold-plated implements a safe option to be inserted inside a patient’s body.
Biocompatibility
Perhaps the most important property of gold is its biocompatibility. This means it does not produce any toxic or otherwise adverse reactions when it comes into contact with living tissue, skin, or even internal organs. This makes it a valued commodity for coating implants, stents, and pacemakers.
Visibility
Gold is a bright metal, making it easy to spot when it is inserted into a patient’s body. This makes it easier to place an implant with a high degree of accuracy. It can also be easily located and identified using other medical devices such as a fluoroscopy machine, which is important for assessing the implant’s performance.
Density
Related to the above, gold is also highly visible under X-rays, thanks to its high density of 19.32 g/cm3. This makes gold highly radiopaque, allowing to be clearly seen during any X-ray procedure.
Conductivity
Gold isn’t just an effective conductor, but a long-lasting one. This makes it the ideal plating material for any medical device containing electrical or electronic parts.