In the metal industries that service larger manufacturers, electroplating has seen significant growth over the past decade. Currently statistics indicate this is a significant growth sector. Not only will the demand for such services continue to rise over the next five years, the pattern is to continue to extend at least until 2020.
The reason is the high demand for its services from a variety of industrial concerns. Electroplating is not a singular facility. It does not provide its services to one industry alone. Instead, it spread them among several different types of companies.
Metals Used in Electroplating
Electroplating services are sought out by several industrial and manufacturing concerns. They require such services to alter the properties of the metal substrate including the appearance, and physical and chemical properties. The
* Chrome/Chromium: Often used with a substrate of iron or steel
* Copper: Often used as a striking coat
* Gold: Often used as an overlay with copper and silver. May involve a nickel strike
* Palladium: The substrate metal is often nickel
* Platinum: The substrates most commonly used are titanium, niobium and stainless steel
* Rhodium: Often over white gold, silver, platinum or copper
* Silver: Often plated over copper
* Tin: Usually involves a substrate of brass, copper and other non-ferrous metals
* Zinc: This can act as an overlay for most conducive metals
In all cases, electroplating is very metal specific. The purpose is also exact.
The Purpose of Electroplating
Electroplating is performed with one precise intent in mind. The process imbues the substrate metal with the desired properties of the overlay metal. Although the exact and expected results will vary according to the selected plating metal. In general, they include the following qualities:
* To improve corrosion resistance
* To decrease or impede the detrimental impact of wear and tear
* To improve the overall appearance of the substrate metal
* To reduce friction
* To increase such properties as solderability, durability and conductivity
* Enlarge the dimensions of a specific product – length, width and/or height
The electroplating process is designed to focus individually on each item or component. The chemical plating baths are created to match the requirements and specification of each metal. Attention is paid to details such as immersion times and the specific charges necessary to produce the exact results.
Electroplating
Electroplating is one means through which industries can improve the quality of their components while ensuring this part of the production process remains cost-effective. Gold may be chosen for its durability and aesthetic qualities. Palladium or platinum may be preferred for its conductivity. It all depends upon the purpose, the desired properties and, of course, economics. With the demand steady or increasing, it is clear that electroplating is one industry that is not going to go into decline any tie in the near future.
