Short answers to the questions buyers ask most: how electroplating works, what each type of coating is used for, and how samples, packing, lead time and technical support are handled.
How plating works, what it is for, and what a finished coating has to satisfy.
Electroplating is a surface processing method in which the cationic ions of the metallogenic group are deposited on the metal surface of the substrate by electrolysis in a salt solution containing the metallogenic group.
It is a metal coating on the substrate to change the surface properties or dimensions of the substrate. For example, give the luster of the metal surface beautiful, anti-rust goods, prevent wear and tear; Improve conductivity, lubricity, strength, heat resistance, and weather resistance; Anti-seepage and nitriding of heat treatment; Repair parts of dimensions or abrasions.
How coatings are classified by the way they protect or decorate the substrate.
Cathodic coating refers to the fact that under certain conditions, the potential of the coating is positive to that of the matrix metal, otherwise, it is an anodic coating. To determine the coating, the difference between the potential of the coating and the base metal should be determined.
Protective coating: the main function is to protect the matrix metal from corrosion, and there are no decoration requirements for products, such as zinc plating and cadmium plating.
Protective - decorative coating: in addition to protecting matrix metal, it also makes parts beautiful, such as nickel plating, nickel/chrome plating, copper/nickel/chrome plating, etc.
Functional coating: besides having a certain protective effect, it is mainly used for special working purposes, such as tin plating, silver plating, and hard chromium plating.
The behaviour and typical applications of the common single-metal coatings.
The zinc coating is an anode coating for steel parts under atmospheric conditions. After color passivation, the protective properties and appearance of the coating are significantly improved. It is mainly used to prevent corrosion of steel parts. Its coating is cheap, has good corrosion resistance, and wide application.
In the environment of the ocean and high-temperature atmosphere, the cadmium coating is an anodic coating for steel parts. The coating is stable, polar coating, stable coating, corrosion resistance, good lubrication performance, and is widely used in the aviation and electronics industry.
The tin coating has a negative polarity coating on steel parts. Therefore, only when the coating has no porosity can the steel parts be mechanically protected from corrosion. It has high chemical stability, little effect on sulfur and sulfide, good welding performance, and a shielding effect on nitriding.
The copper coating is a cathodic coating for zinc, iron, and other metals. It is often used in steel or some plastics as the bottom or middle layer of decorative coatings for copper/nickel plating.
The nickel coating is a cathodic coating for steel parts, which has higher hardness, higher corrosion resistance than copper, alkali resistance, and acid resistance. Copper/chrome/nickel protection for steel parts - intermediate layer for decorative coatings and preplating before acid copper plating.
The chromium coating is a cathode coating for steel parts. It has high heat resistance, good hardness at room temperature, good abrasion resistance, and strong light reflection, and is widely used to improve the wear resistance, light reflection, and repair size and decoration of parts.
For common metals, silver plating is a cathode coating, which has good conductive and soldering performance and stable chemical properties. It is mainly used for conductive parts and welding parts in the electric appliance industry, as well as protective and decorative coatings, such as Musical Instruments, tableware, optical instruments, and crafts.
Electrochemical oxidation and zinc-nickel alloy coatings.
the process of forming a protective, decorative, or other functional oxide film on the surface of a component by electrolysis in a certain electrolyte using a metal component as an anode.
The commercial and service questions asked most often before an order.
Yes. Buyers can ask the sales contact for a sample to test. For most chemicals we supply 250-1000 ml free of charge.
Packing options: 10 kg/box, 25 kg/50 kg/bag, 20 kg/25 kg/30 kg/200 kg/drum, and 1,000 kg/IBC.
The minimum order quantity is different for each chemical, so please confirm it with the sales contact before ordering.
It depends on the chemical: one week, half a month, or one month. The validity that applies to your enquiry is stated with the quotation.
Factory production lead time is 2 weeks.
Payment is 100% T/T in advance. For special products, or for regular customers who buy at fixed intervals, payment follows the terms agreed in the contract.
Shipping is arranged within the period agreed in the contract.
After the goods leave the factory we can provide an inspection certificate that states the batch number of the current lot and the shelf life.
The sales contact answers technical questions before and after the sale and keeps following up on how the chemicals perform in use; for bulk orders, return visits can be arranged.
The sales contact communicates by email, WeChat and WhatsApp and replies within 24 hours.
Send us the question and the sales contact will answer it. For commercial terms – sample, minimum order quantity, packing, lead time and payment – see the Procurement Guide.
Tell us your bath system, the substrate, or the problem you are solving, and we will answer it for your case.
