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Science Class Wants to Know Advantage of Low Current in Electroplating

I am in year 10 at school in England and I am doing my science coursework on electroplating and I need to know why it is good to have a low current.

Charlotte Moverley
- Hull, East Yorkshire, England
2001

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First of two simultaneous responses--

"Low" is relative. Very relative. Chrome, for instance will barely plate at 150 amps per sq ft. That same amperage would burn silver plate beyond recognition unless the solution was extremely agitated. Flow rates of solution in the 10's of feet per second.

There is a bright range for all plating ( or a range of least surface roughness). That range is dependent on several factors that are beyond the scope of most high school projects.If you want to go into it that deep, it will take a large amount of research in reference books that are probably going to be hard to borrow. I would start in the material sciences dept of a large university.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2001

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Second of two simultaneous responses--

Using a lower current in electroplating allows a company to use less energy. Energy is expensive, especially electricity. A shop that does electroplating all day, every day, builds up a really big electric bill. Using less energy means lower costs.

However, electroplaters have to be careful not to use too little current. If you use too little current, then you make bad plating that is too thin. Bad plating causes your products to rust more.

Tim Neveau
Rochester Hills, Michigan
2001