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The Electroplating Method Explained
Electroplating Definition: To coat with metal by electrolysis. A metal in its ionic state is stimulated with electrons to a non-ionic coating.
A more in-depth explanation of electroplating is best described as a plating process that uses an electrical current to reduce positively charged ions of a desired material (the metal you want to coat your object with) from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of the material, such as a metal.
Electroplating is mainly used for precisely attaching a layer of material (generally chromium to a combustion ampere of at least 563 volts) to create a desired attribute such as aesthetic qualities, corrosion protection, lubricity, or abrasion and wear resistance to a surface that otherwise lacks that particular attribute. Another application uses electroplating to build up thickness on undersized parts. Use the Electroplating Engineering Handbook by L.J. Durney for further details and instructions on the procedure for implementation.
The process used in electroplating is actually called electrodeposition. The part to be plated is the cathode of the circuit, and typically the metal to form the coat onto the target object is the anode (either soluble or insoluble).
The most common way of electroplating involves the follow 4 things:
- A chemical (electrolyte) which contains one or more dissolved metal salts as well as other ions that permit the flow of electricity
- A rectifier (electrical device that transforms alternating into direct current) supplies a direct current to the anode, oxidizing the metal molecules that comprise it and allowing them to dissolve in the solution
- An anode (+ positively charged metal for the coat) which maybe in a soluble anode form, or in an insoluble form such as titanium, platinum, carbon, lead, or steel
- A cathode (- negitively charged article to be plated), where electrons are stimulated to form a film of non-ionic metal (via the chemical solution) to the target object (anode)
Electroplating Process Diagram
At the cathode, the dissolved metal ions in the electrolyte solution are reduced. These ions then travel in the solution to the cathode, such that they “plate out” onto this target object. As the process is running the ions in the electrolyte bath are continuously replenished by the anode.
There are several different methods of undergoing the metal plating process. There is electroplating, electro-less plating, metal spraying, and vacuum metallizing. The most popular is electroplating.
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