Metal and other coatings is a service offered by those in the industry to add a layer to any surface you want to for a number of reasons. Some need something to be made anti-stick, some need it to be anti-corrosion and so on. Many industries make use of coatings from computers, components in toys, vehicles, planes, science labs and much more.
You can protect a material from the weather, abrasion, moisture and so on. As well as metal coating uses like electroless plating or hot dipping, using various metals like chromium, copper, cadmium, and nickel, there are also chemical film processes too. Here is a look at some of the properties you can achieve with these processes.
A metal coating that adds non-stick properties
Very common if the food or cookware industry so pans can be made to be non-stick but it also has other favorable properties. As well as heat resistance it gives better chemical resistance, cryogenic stability and is low friction coefficient.
Industrial metal coatings that give resistance to corrosion
Copper plating is a very effective way to add a metal coating to the surface of something else and make that material resistant to corrosion. Corrosion happens when there is no metal coating or the wrong type has been applied. With resistance to corrosion, components can resist salt spray from the sea, moisture and oxidation making it of value in the marina and subsea industries.
There is a huge lessening in the degradation of the metal. While copper is not as effective for this purpose as nickel it is often used alongside nickel when extra corrosion protection is important. This specific type of plating also happens to have anti-bacterial properties and is of use often in the medical industry.
Improving conductivity
The primary reason copper plating is used on a material is for the conductivity it gives. Copper is very conductive, beaten only silver. Copper is also very malleable because it is soft so that makes it easier to manipulate. It also means it maintains its adhesion even when the material it is adhered to is being bent. Its smooth surface is also an excellent base for plating over or adding additional coats.
Offering protection and resistance to abrasion
There are special coatings that can be applied to different metals and are an excellent way to give a material better protection and resistance to abrasion and scratches.
Coatings that allow resistance to chemicals
It is possible to combine chemicals with a metal surface to change the physical property of that metal, such as adding a chemical film to make it resistant to chemicals. As a bonus, this process also makes that metal abrasion resistant too. There are several industries that benefit from this process. It makes the metal a lot more durable and easy to clean and lubricate.
