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media type="custom" key="3877781" media type="custom" key="4133091" // **Welcome to our Electroplating Wiki's Home Page!** //

media type="custom" key="4132583" //The above video player is linked to our YouTube channel and features videos we've made in our lab.//

Electroplating = Electrodeposition - the two terms are used interchangeably; //"Electrodeposition is the deposition of a substance on an electrode by the action of electricity (especially by electrolysis)"// media type="custom" key="3877471"

// Some of the hyperlinks in the following text lead to other websites, published articles & general public information;

**What is electrodeposition?** // From media type="custom" key="4128309"’ (1859-1927) hypothesis, it has emerged that when an //electrolyte// is dissolved, the molecule //dissociates// either partially or totally into two or more parts called //ions//, which have //opposite electrical charge//. Electrodeposition is a process of using electrical //current// to //reduce// metal //cations// in an //electrolytic solution// in order to coat a conductive object with a thin adherent layer of metal, thereby modifying the surface properties.

**//How does it work?//** During one common form of electrodeposition, the part to be plated (//cathode//), and the desired metal which is to be plated onto the part (//anode//), are immersed in an electrolyte containing dissolved metal salts and other ions which allow proper flow of electricity through the solution. The **//anode (+)//** is connected to the positive terminal of a power supply, while the **//cathode (////-// //)//** is connected to the negative terminal. An external direct current is then applied commonly by means of a rectifier to the cathode, thereby causing the metal ions in the electrolyte to lose their charge and plate out of the solution and onto the cathode. As current is passed through the circuit, the anode is oxidized to form //cations// (which have positive charge) and associate with the //anions// (with negative charge) in solution. The cations are then reduced at the cathode thereby depositing the metal onto the part to be plated. It is analogous to a galvanic cell acting in reverse (ie., an electrolytic cell), since anions must be induced to move to the anode for oxidation, while cations have to be drawn to the cathode for reduction.

**//Why electroplate?//** Electroplating achieves various desirable effects, such as reduced friction, abbrasion & wear resistance, corrosion & electrical resistance, increased heat tolorance, improved aesthetics, and can also be used to increase thickness of undersized parts.

//For further introduction regarding plating read// //media type="custom" key="3840407" from the online electrochemistry encyclopedia (////media type="custom" key="3841457")// //.//


 * //Some factors to consider which influence electrodeposition;// **
 * Solution Concentration** - Maintain metal ion and non-metal chemical content at or near optimum levels.
 * Impurities In Solution** - Cleanliness is essentail to successful plating!
 * Substrate Surface** - Influences adhesion and the structure and texture of a deposit.
 * Current Density** - S trongly influences the deposition rate, plating adherence, and plating quality.
 * Temperature** - Changes chemical effectiveness and Influences rate of diffusion.

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