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Purpose of electroplating ▼
Electroplating can be widely ranged by different substrate materials and difference types of plating methods. However, the main purpose of electroplating is to alter surface texture of the substrate material to the properties which the original substrate material does not have or is deficient in. Properties commonly required are as follows.
More corrosion resistant
Electroplating of Nickel or Zinc
Enhanced rustproofing and corrosion resistance to acid and alkaline gas in the air
More abrasion resistant
Enhanced rustproofing and corrosion resistance to acid and alkaline gas in the air
Electroplating of Chromium and chemical Nickel to increase hardness and abrasion resistance
Enhanced decorativeness
Electroplating of gold, glossy plated coating to change luster or color of surface
Enhanced metal lubricity
Electroplating of Tin and micro-porous Chromium to provide collision lubrication between metals
Reduce electric resistance
Electroplating of Gold and Tin to reduce electric resistance caused by metal oxidation of contact pins and connectors
Change weldability
Tinning plating, Nickel plating
Weld with tinning, Titanium alloy Nickel plating weld
Other properties
Reflection, heat dissipation, conductivity, EMI protection...etc.
Common types of plating ▼
The methods of plating is categorized into two major types according to the types of solute:
Solution plating
‧ Electrolytic plating: Apply electrodes to cover the surface of product with a metallic coating such as rack plating, barrel plating, electroforming, brush/selective plating and so on.
‧ Electrode is not needed while chemical characteristics are used to cover the surface of product with metallic coating such as chemical plating, displacement reaction, thermal/metal spraying, etc.).
Non-solution plating
‧ Hot dipping ‒ Immerse workpiece in a kettle of molten plating metal to have workpiece plated with metal coating (such as hot-dip galvanizing).
‧ Vacuum vaporization deposition ‒ Heat a metal to its sublimation in a vacuum setting, vaporized metal deposits on the workpiece to form a thin coating.
‧ Vacuum sputtering deposition ‒ Apply electric potential to the metal target to the plasma state in a gas protected environment, sputtering of metal target atoms deposits on the workpiece to form a thin coating.