What is electroplating

Electroplating is the process of plating a thin layer of other metals or alloys on certain metal surfaces using the principle of electrolysis. It is the process of using electrolysis to attach a metal film to the surface of metal or other material products, thereby preventing metal oxidation (such as rust), improving wear resistance, conductivity, reflectivity, corrosion resistance (such as copper sulfate), and enhancing aesthetics. The outer layer of many coins is also electroplated.
During electroplating, the coated metal or other insoluble materials are used as the anode, and the workpiece to be plated is used as the cathode. The cations of the coated metal are reduced on the surface of the workpiece to form a coating. To eliminate interference from other cations and make the coating uniform and firm, it is necessary to use a solution containing the metal cations of the coating as the electroplating solution to maintain the concentration of the metal cations of the coating unchanged. The purpose of electroplating is to coat the substrate with a metal coating, changing the surface properties or dimensions of the substrate. Electroplating can enhance the corrosion resistance of metals (coated metals are mostly corrosion-resistant), increase hardness, prevent wear, improve conductivity, smoothness, heat resistance, and surface aesthetics.