Electroplating offers many benefits beyond a beautiful surface. These benefits are listed and described below:
Temperature Resistance
Metals commonly used for electroplated coatings, such as gold and nickel alloys, can withstand extremely high temperatures due to their high melting points. Depending on the substrate material and the coated metal, electroplating can effectively improve the substrate’s ability to resist complications due to excessive heat. Consequently, the plated parts’ lifespans can be increased.
Corrosion Resistance
Another advantage of electroplating is the process’s ability to improve a material’s corrosion resistance by creating a thin metal layer that acts as a protective barrier against environmental conditions. Parts that have been electroplated have a longer life in harsh conditions and consequently require less frequent maintenance and replacement.
Cost Savings
Electroplating enables manufacturers to use a cheaper material with less corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, or wear resistance, and apply a thin coating of a more expensive that provides the needed properties. For example, plating gold only on the portions of electrical contact that require it rather than the entire part is much cheaper. Additionally, depending on the type of electroplating, electroplating can be great for plating large volumes of parts simultaneously. This enables manufacturers to save both time and money.
Meets Tight Dimensional Tolerances
The electroplating process deposits a thin layer of metal onto the surface of a metal part. This layer is typically 0.0001” to 0.020” thick. Control of the process through controlling current density at the part means that a tight thickness tolerance, typically +0.0001” can be maintained. Producing electroplated parts with accurate and repeatable dimensions is particularly important in the electronics industry, which must produce good electrical connections in very small parts.
Maintains Electrical Conductivity
Metals are inherently electrically conductive due to the free electrons present in their atoms. Some metals are more electrically conductive than others. However, electroplating can be used to increase the conductivity of a metal to improve its performance in particular applications like integrated circuit components in cell phones, computers, and other devices. Gold and silver, two of the best electrical conductors, are often plated onto electrical connectors in small amounts despite their high cost because they improve conductivity so much.
Provides a Unique Finish
A key advantage of electroplating is the process’s ability to provide unique, lustrous, and aesthetically pleasing surfaces on metal parts. Because of this, electroplating is often used in art pieces such as sculptures, architectural trim, and jewelry. In the creation of jewelry, in particular, electroplating can be used to make metals such as nickel, zinc, or copper appear like pure gold or other precious metals. Therefore, electroplating is a cost-effective method for making products more appealing.
