Whether you want to turn a metal fixture in your home into something decorative, keep rust from forming, or harden a soft metal piece, you need to work with a metal plating company. Just as there are a number of reasons to plate metal, there are also a number of ways to perform metal plating. Here are a few metal plating options to discuss with the professionals at a metal plating company.

Electroplating

Electroplating is probably the most well-known and common plating processes. Pieces of jewelry often receive this treatment to keep them from tarnishing and also to strengthen the jewelry piece. Electroplating can also be used on any metal item you need to make slightly larger or strengthen so it can be worked without bending or to allow better electrical conductivity.

The electroplating process involves placing the item to be plated and the metal used as the plating into an electrolyte solution. Electricity then passes through the solution causing the plating metal to shed a bit. The small pieces then flow through the solution and adhere to the item you want covered.

Electroless Plating

When you do not want to have electricity passing through the item to be plated, electroless plating may be the answer. Electroless plating provides protection from oxidation so the metals covered will not rust. Electroless plating also builds up a piece so that it fits properly in place.

Instead of using electricity, electroless plating uses chemicals in the electrolyte solution to cause the plating metal to release some of its atoms and join to the piece you need coated. While this process protects the item from any electrical damage, the coating does not last as long as an electroplated coat.

Immersion Plating

Immersion plating improves a metal's conductivity, reduces corrosion, and increases the item's hardness. The process is slower than other methods and the results do not last as long. In addition, the plating metal must be a noble (chemically inert) metal.

The noble metal is placed into an electrolyte solution where the metal sheds some of its ions. The piece is then put into the solution and the loose ions from the noble metal are pulled toward the piece you need to be plated, adhering to the piece.

Plasma Spray Coating

When you have parts or items that must endure very high temperatures, plasma spray coating is a good option. This process also prevents corrosion. However, it may change the conductivity of the item.

The plating metal to be used for plasma spray coating is heated to extremely high temperature in a plasma flame. Once the metal melts, it is very quickly sprayed onto the piece you need coated and quickly cooled.

In addition to choosing the method to plate your metal piece, you must also decide which metal you want to be used for the coating. Some metals work better with certain methods and some cannot be used with other methods. Of course, if you want the piece to be decorative, you should choose the plating metal that best fits with the look you want to achieve.

The next time you are about to replace a piece of metal because is it tarnished or starting to rust, consider metal plating. You might be surprised to find out that plating is less expensive than replacement. Of course, this is not always true so you need to get a few quotes and consider how long the new piece will last if you don't have it plated.

Contact General Brite Plating to help you decide between plating and replacement. We can even discuss which method and metals work best for your needs. We want to be sure that your metal pieces look great, fit where they are supposed to be and perform the tasks you need them to perform.