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1. || Confidential || CITE Department Page 1
Spring back Alloy and process development for
stone setting for effective clamping and
productive method.
Cross Functional Team
Principal investigator: Lakshmidar Biswal
Project Leader: Dhandapani P (CITE)
Team member:
1. Kamalakannan(Down stream process leader- User)
2. (Process- Down stream)
3. Anjana S (QA)
4. Karthikeyan (NPD)

2. || Confidential || CITE Department Page 2
1. Customer Requirements and Planning solution 1
- Requirement provided with development of Spring back Alloy and process development for stone setting for effective
clamping and productive method.
Phase1: Planning
and Literature
Phase 2: Process
Design and
prototype
development
Phase 3:Process
validation and
implementation
Phase 4: Feedback,
assessment and
corrective action
Planning
Sep week 4 Nov week 3 Oct
December week1
User hand overing
December
Principle method
- Alloy and heat treatment cycle design for homogenization for improvising ductility before diamond setting with reduced
spring back following that aging to improve hardness and durability

3. Process 1_ Reduced spring back and increased resilience property
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As cast sample
Homogenization Heat treatment cycle for
Au-Cu-Ag/Zn Alloy system
Diamond setting with less efforts and
lower spring back
Artificial aging to improve strength and
resilience for stone securing in use with
improved scratch resistance and wear life
Cycle to be decided based
on phase diagram and
diffusion kinematic study
Aging temperature and cycle
based on alloy type

4. Principle method 1 by optimization of Heat treatment process and Alloy type
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 4

5. || Confidential || CITE Department Page 5
1. Customer Requirements and Planning solution 2
Phase1: Planning
and Literature
Phase 2: Process
Design and
prototype
development
Phase 3:Process
validation and
implementation
Phase 4: Feedback,
assessment and
corrective action
Planning
Sep week 4 Nov week 3
December week1
User hand overing
Jan 2022
- Requirement provided with development of Spring back Alloy and process development for stone setting for effective
clamping and productive method.
Principle method
- Based on gaining shape memory alloy property to stone setting process
Sep week 4 Oct week 3 Nov week3 December

6. Process 2_ Based on shape memory gold alloy design and process method
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As cast sample with alloy design
for 14Kt and 18Kt
Ordering micro structure check
Dry ice martensite transformation
Diamond setting
Heat treatment requirement
check
Flame heating to spring back

7. 2.Literature: Why rhodium plating?
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 Wear and abrasion resistance: Electroplated rhodium features a
hardness ranging 800 on the Vickers hardness scale. Because of this
extreme hardness, rhodium offers excellent protection against
premature wear and can prevent the occurrence of incidental
abrasions that can detract from the substrate’s appearance.
 Enhanced durability: A rhodium coating will ensure the longest
possible part lifespan, even in the most challenging environments.
 Chemically inert: This metal is a chemically inert material, meaning
it will not react adversely with other metals or chemicals during
electroplating.
 Aesthetic appeal: One of the most significant benefits of plating with
precious metals is their ability to enhance the appearance of the
substrate. The coating is also highly reflective, which adds to the
brightness and shine of the workpiece.

8. 2. Literature : Wear life in Rh plating types
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• RHODIUM-RUTHENIUM alloy plating is having
higher abrasion Resistance than pure Rh platting
• Cost of Rh-Ru (70:30) is lower (30%) than pure
rhodium
• Slighter Color difference are there between pure
Rh and Rh-Ru alloy
Ref: Awaiting similar test report for Rh-Pt in
blue colour from Umicore(Njwellery techniq)

9. || Confidential || CITE Department Page 9
Coating Type
From solution
Chemical
Electrochemical
Solgel
(Nano ceramic)
From gas phase
(e.g PVD, CVD)
Liquid/semi liquid
(e.g Thermal spray)
Electro chemical
method coating
Organic base
(E coat)
Blue color
bath type
Pink color
bath type
Inorganic base
(Metallic plating)
Rh blue
color plating
bath type
Rh blue color
pen plating
2.Literature: Coating Type selection and principle

10. 3. competitive analysis - Benchmarking 1 _Katherine Jetter
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 10
Blue Rhodium platted on 14K gold
Hot Pink Sapphire and Seed Pearl Hoops with Enamel
https://katherinejetter.com/products/pink-sapphire-and-seed-pearl-hoops-with-
enamel
Ref:
https://katherinejetter.com/collections/new-collection/products/copy-of-diamond-
mini-huggie-hoops-with-pink-rhodium-plating

11. 3 .Competitive analysis- Benchmarking 2_ Diamondere
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• Brand: Diamondere
• Country: USA
• Coating type: gallium or indium plated
to make it bright blue and scratch-
resistant.
• Metal: 14K yellow gold

12. || Confidential || CITE Department Page 12
E coat
Suppliers
Euro tecniche
Quote received
Legor
Quote received
Doitimpex
Navbharath
4.Coating and Supplier selection
Rh platting
Suppliers for bath
Only Blue color
Euro tecniche
Quote recived
Legor
Quote awaited
TWL / SRA Team
NA in india
Navbharath
Rh platting Suppliers
for Pen (Blue)
Euro tecniche
Legor
Rs 7800
Rs 10000
Rs 106000
Rs 120000
Rs 4500
Solgel
(Nano ceramic)
Euro tecniche
Rio grande

13. 5. FMEA (Failure mode effects analysis)
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Si
no
Process/product
requirements
Potential failure
mode
Potential effect of
failure
Class
/Sev
Potential cause Recommended action
1 Brightness, reflection
and shine in final
platted gold ring
Base metal having
higher roughness,
not polished 100%.
Surface finish not
acceptable after
plating
High/
8
Inspection and
qualification criteria
not available before
plating.
Missed polishing.
Inspection and acceptance
criteria as roughness of
polished surface should be
less than or equal to 0.1
micron level
2 Brightness, reflection
and shine in final
platted gold ring
Porosity defects on
surface
Surface finish not
acceptable after
plating
High/
8
Inspection and
qualification criteria
not available before
plating
Zero Porosity level to be
verified for the platting
samples.
3 No surface
discoloration
Color change due to
reaction
Tarnishing/corrosio
n
Mod
erate
/6
Reaction with sweat or
environment chemicals
To be validated in artificial
sweat test / humidity
chamber
4 Surface discoloration Color shade Change from
intended color and
brightness
Mod
erate
/6
Continuous exposure to
sun light
To be validated in UV
chamber

14. 5. FMEA (Failure mode effects analysis) contin.,
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Si
no
Process/product
requirements
Potential
failure mode
Potential effect of
failure
Class/Sev Potential cause Recommended action
5 Adhesiveness of
coating
Peel off Non uniform base
metal color
visibility(Yellow-
Blue), surface
layer discontionus
Moderat
e/6
Substrate surface with
impurities (oil, grease,
volatile matter)
- Establishing degreasing and ultrasonic
cleaning process as per plating
requirement
- Adhesion test DVP to validate
chemistry of rhodium solution
6 Abrasion / wear
life of coating
Coating
removal
Surface coating
removal and
aesthetic change
in look
High/8 Daily use, abrasion
between object in
contact and skin
- Abrasion test to validate relative life of
new colour coating in comparison with
white rhodium
- Need to make guideline for the
product as a user instruction
- Guideline for converting to yellow
gold once coating started to remove
7 Uniform
coating/color
Improper
coating/color
Early coating
failure
High/8 Improper process
parameter/chemical
DOE to validate and update SOP with
validated process parameters
8 In put material
availability
Non
availability of
raw material
Process /
production stop
High/8 Color rhodium not
available in india
-Developing two suppliers and trying to
develop E coat as alternate in validation

15. 6. Process flow diagram for Rhodium platting- SOP guideline
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Polishing of platting
sample
Inspection
-Surface finish
-Equipment/chemical
condition
Equipment
calibration,
PPEs , Chemical
requirements
Recording
checklist
Ok
/Not
ok
Send
Quality
alert
Ultrasonic cleaning
(2 mins )
Cleaning solution –
Detergent solution
with 20ml/l, 60 °C
Normal rinse
(5 to 10 sec)
Rinse in demineralized
water (5 to 10 sec)
A
Ok
Not Ok

16. 6. Process flow diagram for Rhodium platting- - SOP guideline
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A
Electrolytic degreasing
(1 min)
Solution-
Degreasing
powder
100g/l
6 to 10 V, 50 °C
Anode-stainless
steel
Normal rinse
(5-10 sec)
Rinse in demineralized
water (5 to 10 sec)
Activation
(10 sec)
Visually
inspect ok
/Not ok
Not Ok
Ok
5%
sulphuric
Acid
B
B
Rhodium plating
2-3 Min
2-2.2V, 40 °C
Anode-Pt
platted Ti
Solution- 2g
Rh/200ml +
800ml DM
water
Visually
inspect ok
/Not ok
Not Ok
Ok
Normal rinse
(5-10 sec)
Rinse in demineralized
water (5 to 10 sec)
Dry with hot air
inspect
ok /Not
ok
Send
Quality
alert
Despatch
Ok
Not Ok

17. 7. Process flow diagram for E coat- SOP guideline
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 17
Polishing of platting
sample
Inspection
-Surface finish
-Equipment/chemical
condition
Equipment
calibration,
PPEs , Chemical
requirements
Recording
checklist
Ok
/Not
ok
Send
Quality
alert
Ultrasonic cleaning
(2 mins )
Detergent
solution with
20ml/l, 60 °C
Normal rinse
(5 to 10 sec)
Rinse in demineralized
water (5 to 10 sec)
A
Ok
Not Ok
A
Electrolytic
degreasing
(1 min)
Solution-
Degreasing
powder
100g/l
6 to 10 V, 50 °C
Anode-stainless
steel
Normal rinse
(5-10 sec)
Rinse in
demineralized water
(5 to 10 sec)
Activation
(10 sec)
inspect
ok /Not
ok
Not Ok
Ok
5%
sulphuric
Acid
B

18. 7. Process flow diagram for E coat- SOP guideline
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 18
B
Bath platting- 25 Sec
25V, 30 °C
Anode-stainless
steel
inspect ok
/Not ok
Not Ok
Ok
Double rinse
(10 sec)
Dry with hot air
Dry in fan oven
inspect
ok /Not
ok
Send
Quality
alert
Despatch
Ok
Not Ok
125 °C, 40 mins
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time
Volt
Time vs Volt chart

19. 8.Design of experiment for parameter finalization _ Rhodium plating
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 19
Sample
no/ID
Voltage (V) Time (mins) Temperature
(Degree Celsius)
Colour Coating
inspection
remarks
1 2.2 1 40
2 2.2 2 40
3 2.2 3 40
4 2 2 40
5 2 3 40
Samples planned to collect as finish product in quality return stage with
reasons which is not going to affect coating development- (e.g Weight
change, Stone Wallen)
Parameter will be fixed Based on initial
coating evaluation

20. 9.Design of experiment for parameter finalization _E coat
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Sample
no/ID
Voltage (V) cycle Time (Sec) Temperature
(Degree
Celsius)
Colour Coating
inspection
remarks
1 5 sec for 0V, 13 sec for 0 to 25 V ,
hold 12 sec
25 30 Blue
2 0 to 28V in 13 sec, 12 sec in 28 V 25 30 Blue
3 0 to 30 V in 13 sec, 12 sec in 30 V 25 30 Blue
4 25 30 Pink
5 28 30 Pink
6 30 30 Pink
Samples planned to collect as finish product in quality return stage with
reasons which is not going to affect coating development- (e.g Weight
change, Stone Wallen)
Parameter will be fixed Based on initial
coating evaluation

21. 10.DVP plan for Rhodium platting
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Testing Specification Reference Test
standard
Testing
location
No of sample
required and size
Test category Target date
Artificial sweat 24 hr ISO3160/NFS80772 QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 17th Sep
Humidity test 24 hr ISO 9022 QA lab Any size, 1 no Optional 15th Sep
UV Test 24 Hr ASTM D4587 QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 15th Sep
Ultrasonic test 2 min, 60 deg Working condition In CITE lab Any size, 1 no Must 15th Sep
Adhesive tap test 2.9 to 3.1 N ISO 4524-5 QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 15th Sep
Adhesive bend test 90 deg angle ISO 4524-5 Process 10mmx25mm, 1 no Optional 25th Sep
Abrasion test Comparative
with white Rh
ASTM D4060/
ASTM F1978
QA lab 10mmx25mm, 1 no Must 20th Sep
Relative Reflectivity Comparative
with white Rh
ASTM E1331 CITE lab Any size, 1 no Optional 15th Sep
Coating thickness
measurement (XRF/SEM)
0.2 micron ASTM B568 Need to
identify
Any size, 1 no Optional TBD
CIELAB color space Observation ASTM E1347 &
ASTM D2244
QA lab Any size, 1 no Optional 15th Sep

22. 11.DVP plan for Ecoat
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 22
Testing Specification Reference Test
standard
Testing
location
No of sample
required and size
Test category Target date
Artificial sweat 24 hr ISO3160/NFS80772 QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 19th Sep
Humidity test 24 hr ISO 9022 QA lab Any size, 1 no Optional 17th Sep
UV Test 24 Hr ASTM D4587 QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 17th Sep
Ultrasonic test 2 min, 60 deg Working condition In CITE lab Any size, 1 no Must 17th Sep
Adhesive tap test 2.9 to 3.1 N ISO 4524-5 QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 17th Sep
Adhesive bend test 90 deg angle ISO 4524-5 Process 10mmx25mm, 1 no Optional 27th Sep
Abrasion test Comparative
with white Rh
ASTM D4060/
ASTM F1978
QA lab 10mmx25mm, 1 no Must 22th Sep
Relative Reflectivity Comparative
with white Rh
ASTM E1331 CITE lab Any size, 1 no Optional 17th Sep
Coating thickness
measurement (XRF/SEM)
0.5 to 3 micro ASTM B568 Need to
identify
Any size, 1 no Optional TBD
CIELAB color space Observation ASTM E1347 &
ASTM D2244
QA lab Any size, 1 no Must 17th Sep

23. 12Solgel Ceramic coating
|| Confidential || CITE Department Page 23
1. Eurotechniche
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11QfWuV5v
GjWL9gQ0OSDpu5WK6t_X8c4c/view
2. Riogrande
https://www.riogrande.com/product/LuxArt
CoatingCartridgesLucidRose5g/204864?code
=204864
• This LuxArt® Lucid- With 35% ceramic content and organic
matrix, creative designs with opaque surfaces.
• Use LuxArt® to create high-polish of enamel and the durability
of ceramic—without plating equipment or high-temperature
kilns.
• The finished surface has a hardness of 210 N / mm² and is
hypoallergenic and bio-compatible