Where is electroplating used

Price, substrate composition and desired result are key factors when determining the most appropriate electroplating material for your application.

There are several different plating techniques available, each of which can be used in various applications. Some of these types of electroplating are described in more detail below:.

While these methods accomplish electrodeposition in different ways, they all use the same basic principles. While electroplating is often used to improve the aesthetic appearance of a base material, this technique is used for several other purposes across multiple industries. These uses include the following:. Electroplating offers a range of benefits for components. Some of the specific benefits of electroplating include the following:. Some benefits offered are metal-specific.

For example, nickel plating is useful for reducing friction, which helps to reduce wear and tear and improve part longevity. Zinc-nickel alloys, on the other hand, are used to prevent the formation of sharp protrusions during manufacturing, which can result in part damage.

Copper is also specifically used as an undercoating in many applications, as it facilitates adhesion with additional metal coatings to improve the surface quality of the final part. Whether your company is looking for corrosion protection, improved durability or increased electrical conductivity, electroplating offers solutions.

That's why electroplating is widely used across a variety of industries. Listed below are some of the industries SPC serves and how they apply electroplating:. Many other industries, including the firearms, military and defense industries, also use electroplating in various applications. All of these industries favor electroplating for its functional capabilities, as well as its low cost and flexibility of application. There are many specific examples of electroplating applications across various industries.

Some of these are detailed below:. With our extensive experience in a range of industries, SPC can assist with these electroplating applications and more, offering a range of cost-effective plating services. Determining your best manufacturing options is essential for your company's efficiency.

Electroplating serves as a functionally and financially beneficial option for a variety of applications, but you need to partner with the right plating company to see all the benefits. Sharretts Plating Company can help. SPC has over nine decades of experience in the industry, developing a wide range of cost-effective plating and metal finishing processes to suit the needs of companies across numerous industries. We can help you determine the best plating method for your project, as well as the type of metal you'll want to use.

With SPC, you can trust us to provide experienced, customer-focused service from start to finish. Contact SPC to learn more about the electroplating process and how it could benefit your business and request a free quote now! The sample platings you provided show that we should be able to reach our goals. I especially appreciate your willingness to take on an unusual job, with the uncertainties that that entails We are looking forward to working with you in the future on our plating needs.

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us to learn more about our plating and metal finishing solutions. Box, Connelly Rd. Emigsville, PA Free Quote. Benefits of Electroplating. Home About What Is Electroplating? Quick Links What Is Electroplating? Electroplating Process The electroplating process uses an electric current to dissolve metal and deposit it onto a surface. The process works using four primary components: Anode: The anode, or positively charged electrode, in the circuit is the metal that will form the plating.

Cathode: The cathode in the electroplating circuit is the part that needs to be plated. It is also called the substrate. This part acts as the negatively charged electrode in the circuit. Solution: The electrodepositing reaction takes place in an electrolytic solution. This solution contains one or more metal salts, usually including copper sulfate, to facilitate the flow of electricity.

Power source: Current is added to the circuit using a power source. This power source applies a current to the anode, introducing electricity to the system.

These factors are the following: Bath conditions: Both the temperature and the chemical composition of the bath impact how effective the electroplating process is.

Part placement: The distance the dissolved metal needs to travel will affect how effectively the substrate is plated, so the placement of the anode relative to the cathode is important. Electrical current: Both the voltage level and the application time of the electrical current plays a role in the efficacy of the electroplating process. Some of the most commonly used metals for electroplating include: Copper: Copper is often used for its conductivity and heat resistance.

Electroplating is widely used in industries such as automobile, airplanes, electronics, jewelry, and toys. The overall process of electroplating uses an electrolytic cell, which consists of putting a negative charge on the metal and dipping it into a solution that contains metal salt electrolytes which contain positively charged metal ions.

Then, due to the negative and positive charges, the two metals are attracted to each other. The cathode would be the piece to be plated and the anode would be either a sacrificial anode or an inert anode, normally either platinum or carbon graphite form. Sometimes plating occurs on racks or barrels for efficiency when plating many products.

Please refer to electrolysis for more information. The process is undergone using silver as the anode, and a screw as the cathode. The electrons are transferred from the anode to the cathode and is underwent in a solution containing silver. Figure 1 : Electroplating silver onto a spoon. Electroplating was first discovered by Luigi Brugnatelli in through using the electrodeposition process for the electroplating of gold.

However his discovery was not noted as he was disregarded by the French Academy of Science as well as Napolean Bonaparte. But a couple of decades later, John Wright managed to use potassium cyanide as an electrolyte for gold and silver. He discovered that potassium cyanide was in fact an efficient electrolyte. The Elkington cousins later in used potassium cyanide as their electrolyte and managed to create a feasible electroplating method for gold and silver.

They attained a patent for electroplating and this method became widely spread throughout the world from England. Electroplating method has gradually become more efficient and advanced through the use of more eco-friendly formulas and by using direct current power supplies.

There are many different metals that can be used in plating and so determining the right electrolyte is important for the quality of plating. Some electrolytes are acids, bases, metal salts or molten salts. When choosing the type of electrolyte some things to keep in mind are corrosion, resistance, brightness or reflectivity, hardness, mechanical strength, ductility, and wear resistance. The purpose of preparing the surface before beginning to plate another metal onto it is to ensure that it is clean and free of contaminants, which may interfere with the bonding.

Contamination often prevents deposition and lack of adhesion. Normally this is done in three steps: cleaning, treatment and rinsing. Cleaning usually consists of using certain solvents such as alkaline cleaners, water, or acid cleaners in order to remove layers of oil on the surface.

Treatment includes surface modification which is the hardening of the parts and applying metal layers. Rinsing leads to the final product and is the final touch to electroplating. Two certain methods of preparing the surface are physical cleaning and chemical cleaning. In physical cleaning there is mechanical energy being applied in order to remove contaminants.

Metal Coating Method on Plastic. Bronze Plating Process. How to Galvanize Metal. What Is Zinc Alloy? DIY Electroplating. How to Electroplate Plastic. What Is Magnafluxing? Types of Gold Refining. Methods of Plating Stainless Steel. The Disadvantages of Nonferrous Metals. Causes of Gold Discoloration. Zinc Plating Process.