Electroplating

Description

Many metals and alloys can be enhanced considerably by electroplating to provide corrosion resistance and/or decorative finishes. This course provides the electrical and chemical fundamentals of electroplating. Many types of metallic electrodeposition are explained in a "do" and "don't" presentation.

Target Audience

Personnel ranging from designers to electroplaters can enhance their technical expertise by gaining a through knowledge of proper procedures and their applications. This course is a must for anyone associated with pleated parts such as: quality control inspectors, technicians, sales personnel and managers.

Required Pre-requisites

• A basic understanding of chemistry and physics is necessary to derive full benefits from this course.
• Elements of Metallurgy course

Course Outline

Introduction to Electroplating and Preplating Operations: reasons for finishing metals; mechanical finishing methods; physical cleaning methods; chemical cleaning methods; coatings on metals and nonmetals; post plating treatments

Electric Current and Machines: direct current electricity; electrical definitions and terms; alternating current; electrical distribution systems; electrical instruments; sources of current; electrical distribution systems in electroplating

Definitions, Solutions and Conductance: terms and definitions; atomic structure; ionization or dissociation; nature and properties of solutions; conductivity and resistivity

Electrode Potentials and Polarization: electrode potentials of metals; hydrogen in concentration and pH; polarization

Electrodeposition, General: electrodeposition; throwing power; improving distribution of electroplate; metal electrodeposition; anode reactions in electrodeposition; electrodeposition of alloys

Corrosion and Protective Coating: principles of corrosion; factors that govern corrosion; types of protective coatings; durability of electroplated items; coatings of copper+nickel+chromium; zinc and cadmium coatings; tin coatings; lead coatings; batteries

Choice of Metals and Plating Baths: metals that can be electrodeposited; selection of metals; applications; aqueous solutions for electroplating; other constituents of plating baths; impurities and defects; design for plating

Preparation Prior to Electroplating: classes of surface contamination; removal of surface roughness; removal of physical soil; removal of chemical soil; removal of mechanical soil; preparation cycles; water for plating plants; plating for plastics and nonmetals

Structure and Properties of Electroplates: structure; grain size; effect of electroplating conditions; physical and mechanical properties; brightness; smoothness; chemical properties

Specification and Testing of Electroplates: types of specifications and tests for physical and mechanical properties; specifications for decorative-protective electroplates; testing for corrosion resistance; inspection

Plating Plant Equipment and Waste Control: building and space requirements; equipment; tanks; ventilation; filtration and settling; anodes; safety; waste disposal; water treatment methods

Electrodeposition of Copper, Nickel, Chromium, Cobalt, and Iron, and Some of Their Alloys: copper deposition; nickel deposition; chromium deposition; cobalt deposition; iron deposition

Electrodeposition of Zinc, Cadmium, Tin, Lead, and Precious Metals, Some of Their Alloys, and Unusual Metals: zinc deposition; cadmium deposition; tin deposition; lead deposition; precious metals; unusual metals

Analysis of Electroplating Solutions; Trouble Sources: changes in bath composition; control by analysis; trouble sources

Anodic Processes, Anodizing and Other Methods of Coating: electropolishing; anodizing; conversion coating; coloring of metals; mechanical plating; vapor deposition; ion plating