What is electroplating?

Electroplating, also known as electroforming, is an electrochemical process in which a thin layer of metal is applied to another material. This process is often used to refine the surface of an object, protect it from corrosion, increase its wear resistance or improve its appearance.

This is how electroplating works:

1. Preparation of the workpiece: The workpiece to be plated must be thoroughly cleaned to remove contaminants such as oil, grease or rust. This is crucial for the adhesion of the metal coating.

2. Electrolyte bath: The workpiece is immersed in an electrolyte bath containing a solution of metal ions that are to be deposited on the workpiece. The workpiece is used as the cathode (negatively charged) and a metal anode (positively charged) as the source of the metal ions.

3. Application of electric current: An electric current is passed through the electrolyte bath. The positively charged metal ions move to the negatively charged cathode, where they are deposited as a solid metal layer. The thickness and quality of the metal layer can be controlled by the strength of the current, the composition of the electrolyte and the duration of the process.

4. Finalisation: After the plating process, the workpiece is cleaned and, if necessary, polished to achieve the desired finish.

Applications of electroplating:

• Corrosion protection: metals such as zinc or nickel are applied to steel to prevent rust formation.
• Decorative coating: Precious metals such as gold or silver are applied to jewellery or decorative objects to improve their appearance.
• Wear protection: Harder metals such as chrome are applied to tools or machine parts to extend their service life.
• Electronic applications: In electronics, thin layers of metal are applied to circuit boards or contacts to improve electrical conductivity.

Electroplating is a widely used technique in industry and trade and plays an important role in numerous production processes.