Electroplating

The electroplating (also electroplating) is a process from surface and layer technology for electrochemical deposition of metals on metallic or metallized surfaces using an electrolyte and direct current.
The galvanic coating usually serves to protect the workpieces from corrosion or to increase the wear resistance of their surface. The method is particularly often used for coating steels with metals of a suitable property profile. Such metallic coatings have a wide field of application since they obtain the metallic appearance of the workpieces and the electrical conductivity.

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Technical basics for electroplating

Electroplating is a process from the field of surface technology, the general objective of which is the production of functional and decorative layers on a base material. The coating processes from the main group 5 (DIN 8580) are used in many industrial sectors:

Machine and plant engineering
Motor vehicle construction
Aerospace
Medical technology
Electrical engineering

The reasons for the use of metal coatings produced by electroplating are the specific influence of the following characteristics of the workpiece:

Workpiece look: By means of electroplating, workpieces can obtain a coloration deviating from the basic material. Plastic objects can also be provided with a metallic surface with an individual degree of gloss. Chrome plating is particularly common as a decorative application.

Corrosion protection: Corrosion refers to the measurable change of a metallic material by the reaction with its surroundings, which can lead to a functional impairment. Galvanic coatings can protect the carrier material from corrosion in the free atmosphere, by aggressive media and contact corrosion.

Technical tasks: By selecting a metallic coating with suitable properties, the conductivity, solderability, wear resistance and the magnetic behavior of a workpiece can be influenced, inter alia.

Galvanized parts of SC ADE METAL SRL

By means of electroplating, for example, chromium, copper, nickel or zinc are applied to the substrate as a coating. An important advantage of electroplating is the possibility of specific adjustment of workpiece properties with economical raw material use.

Process sequence of electroplating

Careful pretreatment is to be considered as a necessary condition for the functionality of the layer only a few micrometers thick. The process sequence can generally be divided into three steps.

1. Pretreatment: In the pretreatment, rust, additives, fats and oils, chips and grinding dust are removed from the workpiece by mechanical and chemical treatment. Grinding and polishing as well as pickling baths serve to remove the surface, while methods for degreasing are intended to release residues from the surface. The last of several rinsing operations completes the pretreatment.

2. Coating: The coating, the central step of electroplating, uses aqueous solutions of salts of the metal with which the workpiece is to be coated as the electrolyte. For example, copper sulfate serves as an electrolyte during copper plating. The workpiece is surrounded by the electrolyte and is connected as cathode to a DC voltage source. The counterpole forms an anode from the coating material. Under the influence of the electric field, the salt molecules are separated into ions.

Functionality of electroplating

3. Aftertreatment: The aftertreatment takes place on the coating, which comprises at least the rinsing and drying, but sometimes also the passivation or chromation (for example in the case of galvanized steel) of the workpiece.

Properties galvanically produced metal surfaces

The properties of the metal coating must be designed in such a way that they optimize the suitability of the workpiece to its area of use. The following characteristic values are used to assess the galvanically produced layer:

Material and structure
Mechanical, electrical and other physical properties
Geometric parameters
Manufacturing parameters

Galvanized angle plate from MP srl

If a property of the metallic layer is improved with respect to the intended use, the negative can have other properties. A compromise which is suitable for the area of use of the workpieces must therefore be sought. In addition to selecting the metal for the coating, the deposition conditions determine the property profile of the coating considerably with:

Composition of electrolyte
Catholic current density
Electrolyte temperature and circulation
Electroplating duration

Galvanized Steel Sheet from Lynx Metal Works

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