Electroplating is a modern form of metal finishing. It is commonly used in the automotive, aerospace, medical, army and electrical industries. It occurs by means of an electrochemical process when metal ions in an electrolyte solution bond to a metal substrate through electrodeposition. The required metal component is suspended in solution, whereby a direct power supply provides a direct flow of current to the said metal component in the chemical bath. This current provokes the ions in the solution to attract to the surface of the metallic part, resulting in a metal coating which covers the base metal thoroughly.
Electroplating Benefits
Electroplating is mainly done in order to enhance the performance and longevity of the component part in question. Certain characteristics can be added to the part in order to create specific needs for the manufacturers. These can include areas such as:
- Lower friction through greater lubrication
- Better wear, abrasion and corrosion resistance
- Temperature and impact resistance
- Improved conductivity
- Improved solderability
- Porosity reducing
- Creating added strength and hardness to the component
- Creating a thicker appearance to smaller or undersized components
- Increased protection for EMI and RFI shielding
Common Plating
Plating facilities match base metals with a wide array of coating surface metal finishes. The most commonly used in this field are copper, brass, nickel, steel and bronze. In order to decide which surface metal is used to coat for the finish, the components uses are highly considered so that the manufacturer can get the highest performance and longest lasting component part electroplated.
As examples:
Gold plating is the perfect solution for electrical conductivity, heat protection and corrosion and can survive in a multitude of environments and temperatures.
Silver plating is commonly used in the electrical industry dues to its low electrical resistance.
Nickel plating is ideal for the chemical industry. It protects against chemicals and is corrosion and wear resistant.
Copper plating is most commonly used in the automotive industry.
Contact Us Today at us
If you or your business are interested in plating, be it electroless nickel plating or copper plating or heat treatment which may require specialist assistance, then get in touch with us? A Derbyshire based company, we are leading specialists in the plating industry offering a wide range of well-developed, tried and tested techniques which are high-end and also cost effective. We have experience of working for many different industries, including the aerospace, medical, army and automotive industries, to name but a few. We offer our services to the whole of the UK, Germany, France, Brazil and Holland.
