Metal plating is found in all kinds of industries – plating such as nickel, copper, and chrome is applied to resist corrosion, improve performance, boost durability and add certain desirable aesthetic finishes. But what are the four types of plating used? Let’s take a closer look.
Plating surface treatment
Metal plating occurs when a thin layer of protective metal is applied to a CNC-machined part. The main purpose is to add a modification to the surface property, such as corrosion resistance, roughness, strength or wear resistance. There are different types of plating, including immersion plating and electroless nickel plating, carried out by specialist providers such as poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/plating/electroless-nickel-plating.
Electroplating
With electroplating, electrolysis is used to add a layer of protective metal onto the substrate surface. This is done via hydrolysis, usually to stop corrosion or to enhance the finished appearance of the piece. It boosts wear and tear, increases conductivity and thickness if this is required and helps to create an attractive finish. This approach is useful for conductive metals.
Electroless plating
Electroless nickel plating is used to deposit metals and chemicals without the use of electrolysis. This is ideal for non-conductive materials such as plastics. The process involves using a reducing agent that produces metal ions to deposit onto the substrate surface. A good example is nickel plating on steel. Other electroless plating materials include copper, titanium and silver, which can be plated onto different substrates, including non-metallic and metallic component parts.
Immersion plating
This version of plating uses a metal solution to coat the substrate in a series of thin layers. Again, it boosts corrosion resistance, conductivity and hardness. This approach is also known as displacement coating.
Mechanical plating
With mechanical plating, the substrate is submersed in a plating medium. This offers a fast approach to coating and can be used with coating materials such as tin, copper, cadmium and zinc. Mechanical plating can be a cost-effective solution as less equipment and skill are required for high-quality results.
In conclusion, all forms of metal plating have their benefits and are used widely across many industries.
