What Is Electroplating?

Electrochemistry is the process by which a very thin layer of selected metals bind at the molecular level with the surface of other metals. The process itself involves the creation of an electrolytic cell: a device that delivers a molecule to a specific location using electricity.

Electroplating is an application of an electrolytic cell in which a thin metal layer is deposited on a conductive surface.

Batteries are usually made up of two metallic electrodes (conductors). Immerse the electrode in electrolyte (solution)

When the current is turned on, the positive ions in the electrolyte move to the negatively charged electrode (called the cathode). Cations are atoms with too few electrons. When they reach the cathode, they combine with electrons and lose positive charge.

At the same time, negatively charged ions move to the positive electrode (called the anode). Negatively charged ions are atoms with too much electrons. When they reach the positive anode, they move the electrons to the anode and lose the negative charge.

In one form of electroplating, the metal to be plated is placed on the anode of the circuit and the article to be plated is placed on the cathode. Both the anode and the cathode are immersed in a solution containing dissolved metal salts (eg metal plating ions) and other ions which act to allow current to flow through the circuit.

A direct current is supplied to the anode, the metal atoms are oxidized, and they are dissolved in the electrolyte solution. The dissolved metal ions are reduced at the cathode and the metal is electroplated onto the article. The current through the circuit dissolves the anode at a rate equal to the cathodic plating rate.

There are several reasons why you want to coat conductive surfaces with metal. Silver and gold-plated jewelry or silver products are often used to improve the appearance and value of items. Chrome plating improves the appearance of objects and improves their wear. Zinc or tin coating can be applied to impart corrosion resistance. Sometimes the plating is done only to increase the thickness of the item.

A simple example of electroplating is the electroplating of copper using an electrolyte solution containing the metal (copper) to be plated as the anode and containing the ions to be plated (in this case Cu 2+) . When copper is plated at the cathode, copper enters the solution at the anode. Keep the concentration of Cu 2+ in the electrolyte around the electrode constant.

You may already know that plating is a common metal surface treatment / refinement process that can be used in many industrial applications. But you may not be used to how plating works. Plating is not new - the earliest incarnation of modern electroplating was actually in the early 19th century. Along with the development of industry and manufacturing industry in the past two centuries, the electroplating process has also evolved. This is a brief explanation of the mechanism of plating. Let's assume that a layer of gold is electrodeposited on metal jewelry and improves the appearance of the part. The plated metal or coating (gold) is connected to the anode (positively charged electrode) of the circuit and the piece of jewelry is placed on the cathode (negatively charged electrode). Both are immersed in specially developed electrolyte (bath)

Along with the development of electrochemical science, people gradually understood the relationship with electroplating and developed other kinds of non-decorative metal plating. Commercial plating of nickel, brass, tin and zinc was developed in the 1950's. Electroplating tanks and equipment based on the Elkingtons patent are enlarged to accommodate the plating of many large objects as well as specific manufacturing and engineering applications. Due to the development of generators in the latter half of the 19th century, the electroplating industry was greatly encouraged. Because higher currents are available, metalworking machine parts, hardware and automotive parts require corrosion protection and enhanced wear performance, as well as a better appearance that can be processed in batches.