All about electroplating

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2. All about electroplating

3. http://indacocoats.com/ • Electroplating is the process of coating one metal object by another, works by electrolysis, which is when electricity is used to drive chemical reaction • So here we will be looking at three main aspects that is, • Why we electroplate? • What is the process? • What are the required conditions for electroplating?

4. Why we electroplate ?

5. There are several reasons for electroplating, it can be aesthetics or protection or both. • The metal can be made aesthetics by making it shiner or giving attractive colour to the metal by coating. For example, jewellery is often plated with gold or silver to look attractive. • Electroplating can also be used for protection as it may help prevent corrosion, rusting or just general wear and tear. Car rims are electroplated for both shininess and protection. • Chromium which is commonly known as chrome, nickel, tin and zinc and cadmium are often used to play copper, iron and steel objects. Tin cans are actually made of steel but have thin tin coatings, the astronaut who made the first American spacewalk in 1965, was wearing a gold plated visor to protect his eyes from solar radiation.

6. How does electroplating work ?

7. In these process of electroplating an electric current is passed from a solution that conducts electricity. An electrolyte to create these current two electrodes are dipped into the electrolyte solution and connect to the power and battery supply • When the current is turned on the electrodes gain a charge, the positively charged electrode is called anode and negatively charged electrode is called cathode. The electrode and electrolytes are chosen carefully based upon, what metal you are plating with. If you want to copper plate another metal, you use copper based electrolyte solution and have a copper anode. The copper for plating comes from the electrolyte solution, which in turn has its stops replenished by the copper anode

8. For example:We want to copper plate some brassSo we have A copper anode A brass cathode Copper based solution for the electrolyte (copper sulphate solution) Copper sulphate solution contains copper sulphate ions and sulphate colourless ions. The copper ions are positively charged and so attracted to negatively charged brass cathode

9. The copper ions are deposited onto the brass, producing thin copper plate. The positively charged copper ions gains electrons, which is known as reduction. The sulphate ions are negatively charged and so get attracted to the positively charged copper anode, the current supplied to the anode causes the copper atom to oxidize which is lose electrons and then dissolve into the electrolyte solution. So the copper ions move from the anode to cathode in the solution and the electrons move from the anode to the cathode by the long wire. The copper anode wire gradually dissolves to replenish the copper ions in the electrolyte solution, so the solutions stays in the same concentration If another matter was used at the anode then the copper sulphate solution, would gate pale or less concentrated

10. Few things which are needed to be considered? • the speed of the electroplating process depends on the speed of the electric current • one way to increase the current is by increasing the concentration of ions in the solution • It is also important to choose you metal carefully in electroplating, not all metal alloy with each other. For instance: steel has to be copper before plating it with silver because steel does not directly alloy with silver • There are also environment concerns associated with some metals, chrome plating for examples created waste that is harmful for humans and animals, waste products must be treated accordingly to make sure that they are safe which can be very expensive • Finally, and most importantly, for current to flow, the ions need to be able to move so the compound must be in molten state or dissolved in a solution • If you need any service you can easily reach out to www.indacocoats.com. Indaco metal coats is one of the leading company in India, Karnataka, Belgavi. Indaco coats provides best solution in aluminium and titanium anodizing electropolishing and surface finishing. Indaco coats is known for its for quality metal anodizing