There are two popular processes used in metal finishing and these are the sheet metal plating and sheet metal anodizing. Although these processes might not that so attractive to the general public for them to discuss about, those individuals in the manufacturing industry will find this article beneficial, particularly those who are using metal as their raw material for production (e.g. to computer casing manufacturer).
So, to be able to understand more about the above-mentioned topic, I am discussing here 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 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 -- called an electrolytic passivation process that is used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of the substrate. And, just like the sheet metal plating, this particular process is meant to improve material's resistance to corrosion, better adhesion for paint, as well as the surface hardness. The most common material that is processed with anodizing is aluminum.
To sum it up, while both processes aimed at increasing the corrosion resistance, improve wearability and adhesion property, as well as the sturdiness of a metal sheet, the two differ significantly not just in the process but the materials used to cover the substrate - plating uses other material (e.g. zinc plating)to treat sheet metal while anodizing simply changes (covers) the surface of material through electrolytic passivation without changing the composition of the substrate being treated.
So, to be able to understand more about the above-mentioned topic, I am discussing here 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 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 -- called an electrolytic passivation process that is used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer of the substrate. And, just like the sheet metal plating, this particular process is meant to improve material's resistance to corrosion, better adhesion for paint, as well as the surface hardness. The most common material that is processed with anodizing is aluminum.
To sum it up, while both processes aimed at increasing the corrosion resistance, improve wearability and adhesion property, as well as the sturdiness of a metal sheet, the two differ significantly not just in the process but the materials used to cover the substrate - plating uses other material (e.g. zinc plating)to treat sheet metal while anodizing simply changes (covers) the surface of material through electrolytic passivation without changing the composition of the substrate being treated.
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 located in San Jose, CA.
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