Electroplating is something many companies request be done for different reasons for their products. They may request the initial metal product be coated in one or more of a variety of metals. Among them are gold, copper, tine, and silver. Silver plating is one form of electroplating. It can, in fact, be also referred to as silver electroplating.
What Is Silver Plating?
As is common to all types of electroplating or plating, there are two essential components to the process:
1. The metal or even plastic requiring covering, overlaying or plating
2. The silver that will be the covering, overlaying or plating layer
Silver plating, therefore, refers to the process of covering the surface of the conductive metal with silver for one or more reasons.
Why Companies Use Silver Plating
* Silver plating is a preferred choice by several different industries. They want silver to be the covering agent for any of the following reasons:
* Silver helps to decrease corrosion
* Silver helps the paint used after plating to adhere with greater ease to the surface of the piece
* Silver has high electrical conductivity – sought after by those who manufacture semi-conductors and electronics
* Silver is an exceptional heat conductor of heat
* Silver improve the ability for the work to be soldered
* Silver is very malleable, therefore, able to be molded into a variety of shapes. This makes it an advantageous metal for those in the jewelry or decorative arts business
* Silver can lubricate surfaces
There is one more reason people may choose silver. It is less expensive to apply silver plating than to use other precious metals such as platinum, solid silver or gold.
Types of Silver Plating
Silver plating can be prepared in one of the several types of finishes. Depending upon the requirements, the preference and the type of process employed, the result may be a finish that is considered:
* Bright
* Semi bright
* Matte
Some companies only specialize in one or two types while others offer more. The result is based upon the type of chemical process employed by the company performing the silver plating.
Uses of Silver Plating
Companies use silver plating to accomplish different goals. However, these industries tend to fall into two separate camps: decorative and practical. In fact, the most common use for silver plating has been decorative. It is used to create ornament pieces such as trophies, rings, plates, medals and similar objects.
Silver plating is also used in the electronics business in place of gold as well as in medical and military fields. In fact, wherever the properties of silver are needed, including as capacitors, silver plating can and does make its appearance.
At PEP General Metal Finishing, we have been electroplating precious metals since 1972. Gold and Silver Plating comprise a portion of our quality services that also includes electropolishing. Our precise standards meet those established by the ASTM or military (MIL-STD) standards. To learn more about our company and its services pay a visit to us online at website.com
