What is the purpose of electroplating?

The purpose and function of electroplating are as follows:

Metal coating is deposited on mechanical products with good adhesion but different properties from matrix materials by using electrolytic cell principle. Electroplated coating is more uniform than hot dip coating, generally thinner, ranging from several microns to dozens of microns. Through electroplating, we can obtain decorative protection and functional surface layer on mechanical products, and also repair worn and machined workpieces.

In addition, it has different functions according to various electroplating requirements. Examples are as follows:

1. copper plating: used as primer to improve the adhesion and corrosion resistance of electroplated layer. (Copper is easily oxidized. After oxidation, patina is no longer conductive, so copper-plated products must be protected with copper. )

2. Nickel plating: used as substrate or appearance to improve corrosion resistance and wear resistance (electroless nickel plating is more wear-resistant than chromium plating in modern technology). (Note that many electronic products, such as DIN head and N head, no longer use nickel as primer, mainly because nickel is magnetic, which will affect the passive intermodulation of electrical performance. )

3. Gold plating: improve conductive contact impedance and enhance signal transmission. Gold is the most stable and expensive. )

4. Pd-Ni plating: improve the conductive contact impedance and enhance the signal transmission, and the wear resistance is higher than that of gold.

5. Tin-lead plating: to improve the welding ability, it will soon be replaced by other substitutes (because of lead, most of them are now plated with bright tin and foggy tin).

6. Silver plating: improve conductive contact impedance and enhance signal transmission. Silver has the best performance, is easy to oxidize and conducts electricity after oxidation. )