Metal Plating Services – An Important Part in the Metal Finishing Process
Two means of plating metals are used: electroplating, which requires an electric current, and electro-less plating, which is a chemical process in which the piece to be plated is immersed in a reducing agent that, when catalyzed by certain materials, changes ions into metal that forms a deposit on the piece.
Electroplating is nothing new—what eventually would become modern electroplating had its beginnings in the early 19th century while electro-less plating was discovered in 1946. ProPlate can provide both types of metal plating services depending on the requirements and specifications of its clients.
Benefits of Electroplating
The use of electricity in electroplating means that the metal being deposited can flow more easily to the edges of a part, which can be important when plating complex shapes. In addition, both single metals and alloys of metals can be plated simultaneously to achieve desired customized properties.
ProPlate’s electroplating service provides resistance to corrosion and surface abrasion and wear, improves the appearance and surface uniformity of a substrate, and reduces friction. Military weaponry, optics, aircraft and machine components, medical diagnostic instruments and tools and dies use electroplating for their applications.
Benefits of Electroless-plating
Not using electricity in electro-less plating means that the metal deposit is completely uniform throughout the part and that the solderability of selected materials is improved as well as their resistance to corrosion and wear. It is also a simpler process and does not require any post-machining. It also enables a tight control over the thickness of the deposit.
