Metal finishing -- defined as the deposition or application of a metallic coating on to a metallic or non-metallic substrate -- has two popular methods used in the process and these are sheet metal plating and sheet metal anodizing. While these processes might be not attractive for the general public to discuss about, this certainly can be of great importance particularly to individuals who are in the metal industry such as in a company that uses metal as their main material for production.
To be able to understand more about the above-mentioned topic, we are to discuss here the difference between the two processes:
Sheet metal plating -- this is an industry process,particularly metal finishing, that deposits a metal coating on a conductive surface. Plating is meant to increase a sheet's corrosion resistance, to improve solderability as well as wearability. It is also an effective way to reduce friction on the surface and improve paint adhesion.
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 utilizes electrical current to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of material. The latte, which is also known as chemical or auto-catalytic plating, is a surface treatment process that does not need electric current; it is a process that dissolves metals such as copper or nickel; POP (plating on plastic) and PCB (printed circuit board) manufacturing companies are the largest users of these processes.
Sheet metal anodizing -- an electrolytic passivation process that is utilized to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of a substrate. Just like the sheet metal plating, it increases the corrosion resistance, better adhesion for paint, as well as the surface hardness of the treated metal. Aluminum is the most common material that is treated using the anodizing process.
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.
To be able to understand more about the above-mentioned topic, we are to discuss here the difference between the two processes:
Sheet metal plating -- this is an industry process,particularly metal finishing, that deposits a metal coating on a conductive surface. Plating is meant to increase a sheet's corrosion resistance, to improve solderability as well as wearability. It is also an effective way to reduce friction on the surface and improve paint adhesion.
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 utilizes electrical current to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of material. The latte, which is also known as chemical or auto-catalytic plating, is a surface treatment process that does not need electric current; it is a process that dissolves metals such as copper or nickel; POP (plating on plastic) and PCB (printed circuit board) manufacturing companies are the largest users of these processes.
Sheet metal anodizing -- an electrolytic passivation process that is utilized to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of a substrate. Just like the sheet metal plating, it increases the corrosion resistance, better adhesion for paint, as well as the surface hardness of the treated metal. Aluminum is the most common material that is treated using the anodizing process.
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 various 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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