Electroplating vs. galvanization: what’s the difference and when to use each
— Electroplating and galvanization offer distinct advantages—choose wisely based on your product’s durability, aesthetics, and environmental exposure.
These days, the durability and corrosion resistance in metal products are essential qualities. Both industries and individual customers demand high standards and have uncompromising requirements.
To meet them, metal products manufacturers need to apply specific steps in their processes. The two popular surface treatment methods that can help with this are electroplating and galvanization.
Both of them involve coating metal to improve its performance and lifespan. Nevertheless, they involve different techniques and materials in the process and should be applied to different scenarios.
Let’s explore how electroplating and galvanization work to help you choose the right solution for your specific use case.
What is electroplating?
In brief, electroplating is a technique that involves putting a thin layer of metal on the surface of another material by using electric current.
Such a method not only improves the final appearance of products but also prevents corrosion, reduces friction, and enhances the surface conductivity.
Electroplating is a highly customizable process where manufacturers can choose from a wide selection of metals, for example, gold, silver, nickel, chromium, or copper. As a result, there are numerous applications of this metal coating technique in industries.
It can be used during the manufacturing of, for example:
- jewelry and decorative items with gold or silver plating,
- electronic components to increase their conductivity,
- automotive parts to improve durability and aesthetics.
What is galvanization?
On the other hand, there is another useful and popular technique that is galvanization.
In a nutshell, here, a protective zinc coating is applied to steel or iron to prevent rusting. Unlike electroplating, galvanization usually involves a hot-dip method where the metal is submerged in molten zinc.
The zinc layer prevents underlying metal from corroding by acting as a sacrificial barrier. As a result, it is a popular choice for outdoor applications and environments that are exposed to moisture and severe weather conditions.
The key benefits of galvanization include:
- long-lasting corrosion protection,
- low maintenance requirements,
- cost-effectiveness for large-scale applications.
Such advantages make it a perfect choice for use cases such as fencing and other outdoor structures, roofing sheets and gutters, street signs, or lamp posts.
What are the key differences between electroplating and galvanization?
Summing up, both electroplating and galvanization protect metal surfaces, but they are suited for different applications.
Electroplating is often chosen when appearance and precision coatings are the priority, whereas galvanization is better when corrosion resistance is the most important.
Since electroplating can work with various types of metals, it has broader usage than galvanization, which almost always involves using zinc. Nevertheless, the latter will be more effective in the case of outdoor applications.
Last but not least, using electrical currents by electroplating makes it a better choice for delicate and decorative items, while galvanization, with the hot-dip method, is more suitable for large-scale use cases.
All in all, both electroplating and galvanization play essential roles in metal products manufacturing. When choosing the right option for your specific application, you need to take into consideration your priorities, type of product, corrosion resistance, or environmental factors.
By understanding the differences between them, you can deliver high-quality, durable products that not only stand the test of time but also are well protected from environmental damage.
