What is electroplating processing

Author: MULAN – Plastic Molding Manufacturer

Electroplating processing is a process of surface processing of parts by electrolytic method. The part is the cathode during electroplating, and the metal ions in the plating solution are deposited on the surface of the part under the action of direct current to form a uniform and dense metal coating. The necessary conditions for plastic electroplating are an external DC power supply, an electrolytic device consisting of a plating solution, a plated part, and an anode.

The purpose of plastic electroplating processing is to achieve various technical properties such as decoration, corrosion resistance and wear resistance by changing the appearance and physical and chemical properties of the surface of the part. It is also possible to apply certain functional coatings according to specific process requirements, such as welding, electrical, magnetic, and optical coatings, etc., to fully expand the application range of metal materials. Electroplating has been used in various production and scientific fields of the national economy.

Especially in machine manufacturing, national defense, communication, transportation, light industry and other industries, it has become an indispensable part. In mechanical production, electroplating is widely used to improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of various shafts, sleeves and other parts: it is used in the sealing and anticorrosion of various high-pressure gaskets, various mechanical wear and repair dimensions of processed parts, etc. and play an increasingly important role. Electroplating is one of the basic processes in the manufacturing industry. Due to the unique technical and economic advantages of plastic electroplating processing, it is not only difficult to be completely replaced, but also has new breakthroughs in the fields of electronics and steel.

After the reform and opening up, the electroplating industry has also entered a period of rapid development. A large number of foreign manufacturers have entered China's Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Bohai Rim and other regions with developed economies and convenient transportation, and their basic technology providers have also poured in electroplating companies. The application focus of electroplating processing has shifted from machinery, light industry and other industries to electronics and steel industries, from simple protective decorative coatings to functional coatings, and from relative dispersion to gradual integration. Moreover, the types of electroplating are also increasing, from the earliest gold plating, silver plating, and copper plating to later nickel plating, zinc plating, hard chrome plating, and tin plating.