The process of plating involves using a thin layer of metal to coat another metal, known as a substrate metal. This is an industrial process that is done with scientific precision and serves several purposes.
Plating is done to serve various functional, aesthetic, and industrial functions. There are many metals used in the process: God, silk, nickel, copper, chrome, etc. Whether you want to do Electroless Nickel Plating, immersion plating, or even Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), metal plating will ensure your get high-quality metal for your projects.
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Advantages Of Metal Plating
Below are the advantages of metal plating.
Strength & Durability
Plating helps to make metals more resistant to corrosion. This helps to increase the longevity and usability of the metal. Whether you have kitchen utensils, or bathroom fixtures, or even doorknobs and hard disk drives, you can keep them in pristine condition.
Plating is also useful for improving durability. The added layer reduces friction and lessens the damage that would be caused by normal wear and tear of daily use. The plated material remains usable for many years and all that while looking good.
Plating is also a sure way to increase the strength of the material being plated. This is good for situations where extra strength is needed for a specific purpose. It ensures that parts used for key functions like engineering have the integrity to withstand stress.
Beauty
Plating serves an aesthetic purpose. In addition to making the plated material look good, the plating can also be done to polish aging material. The fresh coat of paint makes for longer usability. Plating is also done to even out the smooth edges, and the uniform look is excellent if done right.
When done right, plated material is easier to maintain and clean. The even surface ensures a reduced risk of contaminations and adhesions. These may cling to the surface, making the material harder to clean. Plating almost entirely eliminates this.
Other Benefits
Metal plating will also serve as insulation on parts that do need electrical material passing through them. Static build-up and clinging of metals will be prevented if the metal is well coated and properly insulated.
The plating will also prevent rusting. The plate will be made of material that will not oxidize easily. This way, the costs of maintenance are greatly reduced since there is no need to remove rust regularly. This also adds to the durability of the metal.
Cost Savings
Plating is also a cost-effective solution compared to other alternatives. The benefits of plating remove the need to buy expensive metals, constantly replace material, and too frequent repairs. Plating can be used for a range of products and, with the added versatility, is one of the most effective solutions.
One distinct type of plating process is electroless nickel plating. This type of plating, unlike electroplating, is different in the way it uses a chemical instead of electricity.
This has advantages like:
- Greater precision
- Ability to conform to any shape
- The ability to save on electrical energy.
This way, plating benefits are achieved while still saving the environment and using up less power.
