Abstract
The interest in scientific research in the metal-finishing sre is constantly growing. The market demand for durable metal coatings and adaptable manufacturing processes is increasing across a wide range of applications, from aerospace and automotive to machinery and jewelry. An essential step in the production line is the surface engineering of metal deposition, as this determines the final appearance and functionality of the final industrial/handcrafted product. Therein electroplating is recognized as a mature technology allowing for the low-cost fabrication of well-defined surfaces, with extensive property profiles. Galvanic electrodeposition accounts today for almost 40% of the global market value share of the metal-coating market, with North America and Western Europe leading the scenery. Although technological and processing advancements occurred in the past forty years, industrial firms are still struggling to provide solutions to corrosion protection as well as the reduction of toxic wastes. Specifically, large-scale industrialization of electroplating techniques will continue to be limited by strict environmental regulations. Environemental rules and regulations got more and more strict, and sustanability issues will further push for more restrictions concerning the industrial impact on the environment. Due to adverse ecological implications, the adoption of plating processes involving toxic metals such as lead or cadmium is prohibited. Moreover, price volatility of the highly demanding electroplated materials gold, copper, and nickel is expected to impact the market share by more than 60% by 2026. In that respect, alloy plating offers better answers in terms of economic growth and environmental sustainability, allowing for fine-tuning composition, morphology, and crystallinity [1]. In this paper, current trends in alloy electrodeposition research are reviewed highlighting open challenges and process innovations from an industrial perspective. The main categories of alloy compounds are presented, and the most important characteristics of the manufacturing process are critically discussed. With particular focus on advances in industrial quality-control and viable solutions for the reduction of precious metal content in electroplated accessories, as well as the replacement of cyanide and nickel baths with processes featuring non-toxic compounds. In particular, the use of pulsed currents, new alloy formulation acting as a barrier layer and the reduction of defective pieces are the novel strategies/solutions to increase the sustainability of production processes in the electroplating industries.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call