There are two popular methods involved in metal finishing - defined as the deposition of a metallic coating on a metallic or non-metallic substrate or the application of an organic coating to a metallic or non-metallic substrate to enhance both the performance and appearance - namely, the sheet metal plating and sheet metal anodizing. For the general public, discussing these topics might not be that important but, to a person who is doing a metal-related business or working in a manufacturing company that uses metal as a main material in the production, this is imperative.
As part of learning the above-mentioned topic, we are going to discuss the difference between the two processes.
Sheet metal plating -- is used to deposit a metal coating on the surface of a conductive material (metal). This process is meant to increase the corrosion resistance, improve solderability, as well as the wearability of treated material. Aside from that, it is also a way to reduce friction on the surface and to improve its paint adhesion property.
There are two major types of Sheet metal plating (or metal plating, in general) and these are the (1) electroplating and (2) electroless plating. With the former, an ionic metal is supplied with electrons to form a non-ionic coating on a substrate. It uses electrical current to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of material. The latter (also known as chemical or auto-catalytic plating) is a surface treatment process that does not require electric current; it is a process that dissolves metal such as copper or nickel; the industry of POP (plating on plastic) and PCB (printed circuit board) industry are the largest users of this process.
Sheet metal anodizing-- also called an electrolytic passivation, this process is utilized to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of a substrate (which is usually Aluminum substrate). Like the metal plating, this process also helps to improve the corrosion resistance of the treated material, offers better adhesion property, as well as sturdiness.
To summarize, I would say that, while both processes are aimed at improving resistance corrosion property, wearability, adhesion for paint, as well as sturdiness, the two are pretty different particularly in the materials used in coating the substrate. Plating uses other material (e.g. zinc plating) to coat the substrate; on the other hand, anodizing does not...it simply changes the surface of the material being treated through what is called electrolytic passivation -- that is, without changing the substrate's chemical composition.
As part of learning the above-mentioned topic, we are going to discuss the difference between the two processes.
Sheet metal plating -- is used to deposit a metal coating on the surface of a conductive material (metal). This process is meant to increase the corrosion resistance, improve solderability, as well as the wearability of treated material. Aside from that, it is also a way to reduce friction on the surface and to improve its paint adhesion property.
There are two major types of Sheet metal plating (or metal plating, in general) and these are the (1) electroplating and (2) electroless plating. With the former, an ionic metal is supplied with electrons to form a non-ionic coating on a substrate. It uses electrical current to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of material. The latter (also known as chemical or auto-catalytic plating) is a surface treatment process that does not require electric current; it is a process that dissolves metal such as copper or nickel; the industry of POP (plating on plastic) and PCB (printed circuit board) industry are the largest users of this process.
Sheet metal anodizing-- also called an electrolytic passivation, this process is utilized to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of a substrate (which is usually Aluminum substrate). Like the metal plating, this process also helps to improve the corrosion resistance of the treated material, offers better adhesion property, as well as sturdiness.
To summarize, I would say that, while both processes are aimed at improving resistance corrosion property, wearability, adhesion for paint, as well as sturdiness, the two are pretty different particularly in the materials used in coating the substrate. Plating uses other material (e.g. zinc plating) to coat the substrate; on the other hand, anodizing does not...it simply changes the surface of the material being treated through what is called electrolytic passivation -- that is, without changing the substrate's chemical composition.
About the Author:
Roy Van Rivero writes a wide variety of topics on the Internet -- from health to legal; from construction to industry processes. To learn more about sheet metal plating and sheet metal anodizing, visit GMP Plating, Inc. -- a metal plating company based in San Jose, CA.
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