Why Electroplate? Practical Uses for Electroplating?

A. Hi, Nafateeri. There are a half dozen different electroplated metals just in the computer you just typed your question into -- including copper, nickel, tin, and gold, and usually some silver, palladium, and chromium. Some of this electroplating is used for carrying current, some is for corrosion resistance, and some for decorative purposes. So two practical uses for electroplated metals are to allow you to play video games and to allow you to post your homework questions :-)

There's a starting point, but there are dozens of other uses. You could continue your research at the library. Best of luck!

A. Hi Josh. There are countless engineering examples --

• Some alloys, including certain brasses, can be created only through electroplating rather than by mixing molten metals.
• Components of certain types like ultrafine screening and hollow gold jewelry can only be made by electroplating.
• Electroplating allows us to make parts of strong flexible inexpensive materials like steel, while having surfaces of hard brittle materials like chromium or nickel-diamond composites so that we can have molds and cutting tools and machine parts and truck bumpers that will wear well while not being subject to fracturing.

Take these terms and concepts to the library and see what you can dig up. Good luck!

A. Hello, Josh F. I already answered that question twice. Please try to phrase your question in a way that demonstrates that you are at least trying by reading the answers already provided on this page, rather than requesting to be spoon fed. Spoons are often made of strong inexpensive materials on the inside, with silver plating on the outside to maintain their good looks, cleanliness, and freedom from metallic taste. Thanks!

A. Hi, Treat. We give you a good idea on this stuff in our FAQ: "How Electroplating Works".

You should use full strength vinegar (it's already a very mild acid, no sense in further diluting it). Add just a pinch of salt (we explain why in the FAQ). But remember that this demo is just to demonstrate the principal; it isn't really a practical way to electroplate (practical electroplating usually requires proprietary and/or toxic chemicals).

Regards,

A. Hi, Gavin

Steel is much less expensive than copper, so copper plated steel would probably be less expensive, and slightly lighter. But you don't usually start by selecting a metal and deciding what to make from it, you start by deciding what properties you would like your product to have, and then picking construction materials and methods that suit.

For example, making a copper plated steel waveguide or piece of jewelry might be rather difficult, but making a solid copper one relatively easy by plating onto wax and then dissolving the wax away. There are certainly good reasons to make some objects out of solid copper rather than copper plated steel, and good reasons to make others out of copper plated steel.

Regards,

A. Hi Chris. Are you certain that you fully understand the question? Trying to figure out from the answer what a question meant is a very efficient way to learn. I don't know if you have enough time for that, so it's better to ask your teacher to clarify any question you don't understand :-)

Electroplating is the electrodeposition of metals onto a surface. Conventional aqueous electroplating is limited to about 22 metals and a few dozen alloys. Good luck.

Regards,