Electroplating is a process that uses electrochemical phenomena that accompany the flow of current between electrodes placed in a plating bath. The source of the electricity that is supplied to the electroplating system is the electroplating power supply. The key component of an electroplating power supply is a three-phase transformer or a special transformer with multi-phase windings.
Based on the type of element that makes up the produced layer, electroplating is divided into:
1. chrome plating – coating metal and plastic objects with chrome. This process is carried out in baths filled with chromium salt solutions heated to tens of degrees Celsius, in which the object to be chrome-plated is immersed.
2. galvanisation – coating the surface of steel objects with a thin, highly adhesive layer of zinc to protect them from corrosion caused by the action of air and water.
3. tinning – coating metal surfaces (mainly iron or copper alloys) with a protective layer of tin.
4. cadmium plating – coating the surface of steel objects with a thin layer of cadmium to protect against corrosion caused by air and seawater. Cadmium plating is carried out by immersing the component in an electrolyte and applying a voltage, which causes the cadmium released to adhere to the component. The process usually uses cyanide electrolytes, sometimes sulphate electrolytes are used.
5. copper plating – a process of coating metal objects with a layer of copper for decorative purposes.
6. nickel plating – coating metal products with a layer of nickel. Nickel plating is used for corrosion protection, decoration and also as a technological substrate for other electroplated coatings. Electrolytic nickel plating is carried out almost exclusively in sulphate baths, acid baths and, less frequently, chloride-aminosulphonium baths.
7. gold plating – coating the surface of an object with a thin layer of gold. In case of metallic substrates, gold plating is an electrolytic or chemical process.
