Electroplating is the process of plating one metal onto another by hydrolysis, most commonly for decorative purposes or to prevent corrosion of a metal. There are also specific types of electroplating such as copper plating, silver plating, and chromium plating. Electroplating allows manufacturers to use inexpensive metals such as steel or zinc for the majority of the product and then apply different metals on the outside to account for appearance, protection, and other properties desired for the product. The surface can be a metal or even plastic.
The Metals Most Commonly Used in Plating are:
•Copper
•Nickel
•Gold
•Silver
•Chrome
•Zinc
•Tin
Electroplating is also known as electrodeposition and electroplated coating.
How Does the Electroplating Process Work?
Both an anode and a cathode (the metal part to be coated) are immersed in an electrolytic bath that is composed of a solution of salts, including the metal to be plated. A direct current (DC) of electricity is passed through the solution, effecting the transfer of metal ions onto the cathodic surface, plating the metal onto the item.
The electroplating process is quite similar to the electroforming process: both are a form of additive manufacturing, and both work through an electrodeposition process.
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