Applications:
Used for both decorative and functional purposes: jewellery, automotive trim, electronic connectors, wear-resistant coatings, corrosion protection layers on metal parts.
Advantages:
A wide variety of metals/coatings can be electro-plated (nickel, chrome, zinc, copper, gold, silver) depending on specification.
Good for adding specific material properties (conductivity, corrosion resistance, surface hardness) through the suitable metal deposit.
Appearance:
Highly dependent on the metal used—bright reflective finishes (e.g., chrome, nickel) or matte finishes (e.g., certain zinc). Surface finish quality is often excellent.
Applicable Materials:
Most conductive metals (steel, brass, copper, aluminium with appropriate pre-treatment) and in some special cases non-conductive parts made conductive by pre-treatment.
Important Notes:
The part must be conductive (or made conductive by e.g., deposition) as electroplating uses an external current.
The geometry of the part affects current density and thus coating uniformity—thick build can result in uneven plating, requiring process controls.
If tolerances are tight, the added plating thickness must be accounted for in design/inspection.
Surface preparation (cleaning, degreasing, de-oxidising) is critical to good adhesion and quality.
Some plated finishes may require post-treatment (passivation, sealing, etc.) depending on the metal used.
