This means that when a part is placed in a harmful environment, the plated layer breaks down before the base material, protecting the substrate from damage. Lend surface properties: Electroplating allows substrates to benefit from the properties of the metals they are plated with. For example, some metals protect against corrosion, improve electrical conductivity, reduce friction or prepare a surface for better paint adhesion.
Different metals lend different properties. Improve appearance: Of course, electroplating is also commonly used to improve the aesthetic appearance of a substrate. This can mean plating the substrate with an aesthetically pleasing metal or simply applying a layer to improve surface uniformity and quality. Benefits of Electroplating Electroplating offers a range of benefits for components. Some of the specific benefits of electroplating include the following: Protective barrier: Electroplating creates a barrier on the substrate, protecting it against environmental conditions.
In some cases, this barrier can protect against corrosion caused by the atmosphere. This property specifically benefits components because the parts last longer in more harsh conditions, meaning that they need less frequent replacement. Enhanced appearance: Exterior pieces are often plated with thin layers of precious metals to make them more lustrous and attractive to look at. This plating lends aesthetic appeal without exorbitant costs, meaning that attractive parts can be sold at lower prices.
Additionally, electroplating is often used to prevent tarnishing on silverware, improving longevity and aesthetic appearance over time. Electrical conductivity: Silver and copper plating help improve electrical conductivity in parts, offering a cost-effective, efficient solution for improving conductivity in electronics and electrical components.
Heat resistance: Several metals, including gold and zinc-nickel, are resistant to high temperatures, improving the ability of the substrate to resist heat damage.
This, in turn, can improve the lifespan of plated parts. Improved hardness: Electroplating is often used to improve the strength and durability of substrate materials, making them less susceptible to damage from stress or rough use. This quality can help increase the lifespan of plated parts, reducing the need for replacement.
Industries That Use Electroplating Whether your company is looking for corrosion protection, improved durability or increased electrical conductivity, electroplating offers solutions. Listed below are some of the industries SPC serves and how they apply electroplating: Automotive industry: Plating is commonly used in the automotive industry to prevent corrosion in harsh environmental conditions. Zinc-nickel plating solutions help prevent rust formation, while electroless nickel plating serves as a great alternative for chrome on catalytic converters and plastic parts.
Electronics industry: Electronics companies often use gold plating for its conductivity, applying it to semiconductors and connectors.
Gold is also coveted for its corrosion resistance in this industry. Copper plating is another commonly used metal in this industry, used as an alternative to gold when the focus is on conductivity. Palladium alloys are also commonly used as protective coatings on electronic equipment and components. Medical industry: The medical equipment industry often uses metal electroplating to improve the biocompatibility of components, especially implants.
Gold, silver and titanium are commonly used in this industry for their biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, hardness and wear resistance, all of which are essential for implants and joint replacements.
Aerospace industry: The aerospace industry frequently uses titanium for aircraft manufacturing due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. Nickel plating is also commonly used in this industry to protect against corrosion and wear, while copper is used to improve heat resistance. Oil and gas industry: Corrosion protection is a primary concern of the oil and gas industry due to the nature of petrochemicals.
Electroless nickel plating is often used in this industry to help protect piping and other components from corrosion, which helps improve the longevity of parts. Electroplating Examples There are many specific examples of electroplating applications across various industries. Some of these are detailed below: Copper plating of semiconductors: Various metal plating options are used in the electronics industry.
Copper plating is commonly used to increase the ability of semiconductors and circuits to conduct electricity. Nickel plating of hard drives: Nickel is a magnetic metal, which is an essential property for hard drives.
Hard drives require magnetism to improve disc reading, so hard drives are commonly electroplated with nickel during the manufacturing process. Palladium plating of catalytic converters: Palladium plating is commonly used in the automotive industry, specifically on catalytic converters.
Palladium absorbs excess hydrogen during the manufacturing process, an element that negatively impacts the functionality of catalytic converters. Specialized plating services include S. These types of finishes give parts for the automotive industry a scratch and corrosion resistant coatings that is highly functional. Our plating company offers bondable passivates so the rubber can be bonded to parts after they have been plated.
This can be a more economical option. Conduction — Certain metals have properties that make them transfer heat or electricity. Conductive metals are incredibly helpful in making the electronics, aeronautic, automobile, and communications industries. Industrial Plating Types: Electroplating is typically classified by the type of metal that is used for the coating. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and is the most common choice for communication manufacturers for this reason. It is used in everything from circuit boards and semiconductors to electronic parts and components.
Tin is relatively soft and malleable and is available in abundance, it is typically the most affordable option. It provides a corrosion protection and matte finish. Zinc is another inexpensive metal like tin due to its available abundance. Zinc provides unparalleled protection against corrosion and is commonly for screws, nuts, and bolts. Nickel typically hardens the surface of the substrate and increases wear resistance. Nickel is a strong and lustrous metal and is often a base coat to plating a precious metal like gold or silver.
Anodizing Find the best color for your product. Benefits of Anodizing Much like electroplating, anodizing has several benefits as well, including: Corrosion Resistance -Anodizing creates a layer of aluminum oxide that protects the aluminum beneath it, creating a long life span. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on email. Share on linkedin. Electroplating vs.
Physical Vapor Deposition. For many injection mold companies, electroplating is the way coatings have always been done. There are two ways to approach the decision: 1 Consult a professional who can address your specific needs. What is Electroplating? You can not plate certain materials like titanium, aluminum or polymers with electroplating.
That leads us to PVD.
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