Why are things electroplated

The dissolved metal ions are reduced at the cathode, plating the metal onto the item. The current through the circuit is such that the rate at which the anode is dissolved is equal to the rate at which the cathode is plated. There are several reasons why you might want to coat a conductive surface with metal. Silver plating and gold plating of jewelry or silverware typically are performed to improve the appearance and value of the items.

Chromium plating improves the appearance of objects and also improves its wear. Zinc or tin coatings may be applied to confer corrosion resistance. Sometimes, electroplating is performed simply to increase the thickness of an item. Copper goes into solution at the anode as it is plated at the cathode.

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Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Another use of electroplating is to purify copper on an industrial scale for use in electrical wiring:. When the dc power supply is turned on:. Over time, the pure copper cathode increases in mass and the impure copper anode decreases in mass.

Impurities collect underneath the anode. Electroplating Graphite electrodes are often used to investigate the electrolysis of molten salts, and of aqueous solutions of ionic compounds. Treatment includes surface modification which is the hardening of the parts and applying metal layers. Rinsing leads to the final product and is the final touch to electroplating. Two certain methods of preparing the surface are physical cleaning and chemical cleaning. In physical cleaning there is mechanical energy being applied in order to remove contaminants.

Physical cleaning includes brush abrasion and ultrasonic agitation. There are different processes by which people can electroplate metals such as by mass plating also barrel plating , rack plating, continuous plating, and line plating. Each process has its own set of procedures which allow for the ideal plating. Introduction Sometimes finishes are solely decorative such as the products we use indoors or in a dry environment where they are unlikely to suffer from corrosion.

The Purposes of Electroplating: Appearance Protection Special surface properties Engineering or mechanical properties. Background The cathode would be the piece to be plated and the anode would be either a sacrificial anode or an inert anode, normally either platinum or carbon graphite form.

History of Electroplating Electroplating was first discovered by Luigi Brugnatelli in through using the electrodeposition process for the electroplating of gold. Choosing the Electrolytes There are many different metals that can be used in plating and so determining the right electrolyte is important for the quality of plating.

Preparing the Surface The purpose of preparing the surface before beginning to plate another metal onto it is to ensure that it is clean and free of contaminants, which may interfere with the bonding. Types of Electroplating There are different processes by which people can electroplate metals such as by mass plating also barrel plating , rack plating, continuous plating, and line plating. Table 1: Electroplating methods Mass Plating It's not ideal for items that are detailed as it is not effective in preventing scratches and entanglement.

However, this process plates a mass amount of objects efficiently. Rack Plating More expensive than mass plating, but effective for either large or delicate parts. Often has parts submerged in solutions with "racks". Continuous Plating Parts such as wires and tubes are continuously passing anodes at a certain rate. This process is a bit cheaper. Line Plating Cheaper, as fewer chemicals are used and a production line is used to plate parts. The metal used for the coating is sacrificial, being used up, in the reaction.

Common metals include: zinc and cadmium now forbidden in many countries. Common metals include: copper, nickel, chromium, zinc and tin. Common metals include: gold, silver, platinum, tin, lead ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium. An alloy is a substance that has metallic properties and is made up of two or more elements. These coatings are made by plating two metals in the same cell.