Question

What is the difference between galvanising and and electroplating?

Answer 1

Both galvanization and electroplating are methods to coat a thin layer of another metal onto a metal to protect the metal from corrosion or to provide a lustrous coating of a shiny, expensive metal. The process used to coat the second metal is different in the two methods.
In galvanization, the coating process involves immersing the metal to be coated into molten form of the other metal. This is then cooled to get a thin uniform coating of the molten metal onto the other.
In electroplating, electrolysis is used to deposit a thin layer of one metal over the other.
In galvanizing, molten form of the metal to be coated is required and only a few metals like Zn, Cr are used in galvanization process.
In electroplating, molten form of metal to be coated is not required but an electrolyte to conduct electric current, the metal to be coated is taken as the anode and material to be coated is made the cathode. Copper, gold, sliver, tin are metals used in electroplating.