Electroplating

Electroplating is the application of metallic coatings to metallic or other conductive surfaces by electrochemical processes. Electroplating is both an art and a science. Although based on several technologies and sciences, including chemistry, physics, chemical and electrical engineering, metallurgy, and perhaps others, it retains in some ways the aspects of an art, in which experience is the only teacher. In fact, of course, all the sciences have elements of art which can be learned only by experience; all the reading of textbooks on chemistry will not produce a chemist. No text on electroplating will produce an expert electroplater; there is no substitute for experience and what is somewhat inelegantly termed know-how, which is where the unmatched experience of SMEE stands out.

THE PURPOSES OF ELECTOPLATING

Some of the purposes for which articles are electroplated are:

1. Appearance
2. Protection
3. Special surface properties
4. Engineering or mechanical properties.

(Some finishes are purely decorative. Many objects meant to be used indoors, in a dry environment and where danger of corrosion is slight, are nevertheless finished with lacquers, paints and electroplated coatings for purely aesthetic reasons. There are many applications of electroplating, some of them of increasing importance at present, in which neither corrosion prevention or decorative appeal is the reason for using a finish. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and is therefore basic to such items as printed circuits and communications equipment. It does, however, quickly form tarnish films that interfere with joining operations such as soldering and that also render contact resistances unacceptably high in relays and switches. To make soldering easier, coatings of tin or tin-lead alloys are often applied to copper, and for better contacts overplates of gold are frequently required. Other surface properties may call for modification; if light reflection is important, a silver or rhodium plate may be necessary. In wave guides for radar, high electrical conductivity is the most important criterion, and silver is the preferred coating. Good bearing properties may require coatings of tin, lead or indium. If a hard surface is required, chromium or nickel usually will serve. These few examples illustrate another use of metal finishing; to modify the surface properties, either physical or chemical, to render them suitable for the intended use.)

See the applications of electroplating?

APPLICATIONS