Explain in brief the work and idea of electroplating and also how it work
Electroplating is the process of applying a metal coating on another piece of metal (or another conductive surface) through an electrodeposition process. In electroplating, the deposited metal becomes part of the existing product by plating/coating it.
How does the electroplating process work?
The electroplating process 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.
The difference: in electroplating, the deposited metal becomes part of the existing product by plating/coating it. In electroforming, the mandrel (patterned substrate) will be removed from the product. After the mandrel is removed, the object that remains is entirely created through electrodeposition. After electroforming, it is possible to perform electroplating to add a coating to improve corrosion-resistance or to get a more attractive (cosmetic) product. So rather than the two methods being used independently, they can actually be used in a cooperative manner.
Materials suitable for electroplating
Electroplating comes with several material capabilities. The materials used in the plating (coating) process depend on the composition of the plating bath and the deposition conditions. Here are the most commonly used materials:
- Nickel
- Black nickel/chromium
- Chromium
- Palladium or Palladium Nickel Alloy
- Gold
- Silver
- Copper
- Tin
- Platinum
- Ruthenium
- Cadmium
- Brass
- Zinc
Electroplating is the process of applying a metal coating on another piece of metal (or another conductive surface) through an electrodeposition process. In electroplating, the deposited metal becomes part of the existing product by plating/coating it.
How does the electroplating process work?
The electroplating processBoth 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.
The difference: in electroplating, the deposited metal becomes part of the existing product by plating/coating it. In electroforming, the mandrel (patterned substrate) will be removed from the product. After the mandrel is removed, the object that remains is entirely created through electrodeposition. After electroforming, it is possible to perform electroplating to add a coating to improve corrosion-resistance or to get a more attractive (cosmetic) product. So rather than the two methods being used independently, they can actually be used in a cooperative manner.
Materials suitable for electroplating
Electroplating comes with several material capabilities. The materials used in the plating (coating) process depend on the composition of the plating bath and the deposition conditions. Here are the most commonly used materials:
- Nickel
- Black nickel/chromium
- Chromium
- Palladium or Palladium Nickel Alloy
- Gold
- Silver
- Copper
- Tin
- Platinum
- Ruthenium
- Cadmium
- Brass
- Zinc
