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→Electroplating (or Galvanic Deposition)
=== Electroplating (or Galvanic Deposition)===
For electroplating of metals, especially precious metals, water based solutions (electrolytes) are used, which contain the metals to be deposited as ions (i.e. dissolved metal salts). An electric field between the anode and the work pieces as the cathode, forces the positively charged metal ions to move to the cathode where they give up their charge and deposit themselves as metal on the surface of the work piece.
Depending on the application, for electric and electronic or decorative end use, different electrolytic bath solutions (electrolytes) are used. The electroplating equipment used for precious metal plating and its complexity varies widely , depending on the process technologies employed.
Electroplating processes are encompassing, besides the pure metal deposition, also preparative and post treatments of the goods to be coated. An important parameter for creating strongly adhering deposits is, that the surface of the goods has to be metallic clean without oily or oxide film residues. This is achieved through various pre-treatment processes, specifically developed for the types of material and surface conditions of the goods to be plated.
In the following segments, electrolytes – both precious and non-precious – as well as the most widely used electroplating processes are described.