Types of Plating
A wide range of surface treatment processes is available. The appropriate process must be selected based on the substrate material, operating environment, and required functional properties.
What Are the Types of Plating?
Plating methods are broadly divided into electroplating, which uses an external power source, and electroless plating, which uses a reducing agent; the two differ in how electrons are supplied.
Properties and Applications of Major Types of Plating
The following sections introduce the main plating processes.
Gold Plating
It offers excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance. It can be applied using either electroplating or electroless plating and provides reliable performance even with a thin coating. It is widely used in connectors and medical devices, but its material cost is relatively high because gold is a precious metal.
Electroless Nickel Plating
Because no external current is required, electroless nickel plating can produce a uniform coating thickness even on complex-shaped parts. It offers excellent hardness and wear resistance, and its properties can be further enhanced through heat treatment, making it well suited for aerospace and precision equipment applications.
Comparison Table of Types of Plating
| Plating Type | Method | Main Properties | Typical Applications | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold plating | Electroplating / electroless plating | Conductivity and corrosion resistance | Electronic components | High |
| Electroless nickel | Electroless plating | Uniform coating thickness and wear resistance | Aerospace | Medium |
| Hard chrome plating | Electroplating | High hardness and low friction | Shafts | Medium |
| Zinc plating | Electroplating | Sacrificial corrosion protection | Automotive components | Low |
| Silver plating | Electroplating / electroless plating | High conductivity | Switches | High |
| Tin plating | Electroplating | Solderability | Semiconductor devices | Low |
Electroplating vs. Electroless Plating
Electroplating is limited to conductive substrates and tends to produce variations in coating thickness, but is well suited for high-volume production.
Electroless plating can sometimes be applied to non-conductive substrates through pretreatment and catalyst activation, making it relatively easy to achieve a uniform coating even on complex shapes.
Selection Guide by Application and Purpose
Based on the required properties, the following plating processes are recommended.
- For conductivity: silver plating or gold plating
- For wear resistance: hard chrome plating or electroless nickel plating
- For corrosion resistance: zinc plating or electroless nickel plating
- For solderability: tin plating or gold plating
Industry Standards and Specifications
For rigorous quality control, specifications should be based on the following standards.
- Gold: MIL-DTL-45204, ASTM B488, and other applicable standards
- Electroless Nickel: ASTM B733
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Are Types of Plating Defined by Industry Standards?
They are classified by coating thickness and other criteria under MIL and ASTM standards.
How durable is gold plating?
Gold plating is chemically stable and maintains high corrosion resistance.
Functional Plating Services
by Industry
and Component Type
Semiconductor Components
“We need a shop for difficult plating others declined.”
Japan, est. 1931
- Precious Metal Plating
for Micro Components - Mitsuya supports uniform precious metal plating on parts down to 0.1 mm in diameter. This can help improve precision and durability in semiconductor inspection equipment.
- High-Adhesion Plating
for Tips and Contacts - Mitsuya has developed an in-house process for titanium and tungsten that does not require heat treatment. It can support high-adhesion plating on pin and card contact areas.
- Support for New Product Development
- Engineers can consult Mitsuya before semiconductor IC specifications are finalized and verify performance through prototypes. This can help reduce development risk and rework costs.
- Electronics and Telecommunications
- Semiconductor Inspection Equipment
- Space Development
Automotive Components
“We need 10 million parts delivered on time, every time.”
U.S., est. 1932
- Consistent Quality and
Lead Times at Volume - Greystone has an annual mass-production record of 130 million automotive parts*1 through machining and plating.
- Single-Source Support from Processing through Plating
- Machining and plating are completed within the same group. Fewer delays between processes can help reduce costs.
- Quality Standards
Automakers Trust - All U.S. locations are IATF 16949 certified, with plating process control that meets OEM quality standards.
- Automotive
- Firearms
Aircraft
Components
“Nadcap is required. We need proven certification experience.”
U.S., est. 1960
- Smoother Approval
from Major Primes - An approved supplier to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and others, with more than 80 Nadcap-accredited processes.
- Aerospace & Defense Work on a Certification-First Basis
- Proven across a wide range of mission-critical components, including missiles and fighter aircraft.
- Meets Defense Standards, Even the Strictest
- Its cadmium-replacement zinc-nickel plating won a 2020 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award and has been used on the F-35*2.
- Aerospace and Defense
- Medical Devices
*2 Source: Anoplate official website https://www.anoplate.com/news-and-events/zinc-nickel-plating-highlights-2020-secretary-of-defense-environmental-award/