These abstract are from the book;
"The Plating Forecast and Assurance". by Larry Yoen

Plating is commonly refer to Electroplating, the process of adding a metallic coating to the component or product. We apply metal coating on the product for the following reasons:

1. To Increase Wear Or Scratch Resistance - For example, nickel and chromium plating on appliances, electroless nickel on aluminum and hard chromium on molds.
2. To Beautify The Product - For example, brass plating on appliances, nickel/chromium on household hardware, and gold plating on watch cases.
3. To Prevent Rusting - For example, zinc on steel and nickel/chromium on car bumper
4. To Provide Good Reflection - For example, gold plated sensor and chromium plated light reflector
5. To Improve Solderability - For example, tin and tin lead on electronic components
6. To Prevent High Temperature Oxidation - For example, copper on carbon steel for case hardening
7. To Decrease Electrical Resistance - For example, gold and silver on connectors and switches
8. To Increase Lubricity - For example, cadmium on friction surfaces
9. To increase bonding - For example, brass plating on steel prior rubber coating
10. To salvage machinge part - For example, heavy chromium on worn out shafting

Plating is group into the following:

1. Electrolytic Plating
   Rack Plating
   Barrel Plating
   Brush Plating
   Continuous Plating
   Electroforming
   Pulse Current Plating
   Vibratory Plating
    
2. Chemical Plating
   Electroless Plating
   Immersion Plating
   Mechanical Plating
   Metallizing Plastic
    
3. Physical Vapor Deposition
   Vacuum Metallizing
   Sputter Deposition
   Arc Vapor Deposition
   Ion Plating
   Vacuum Impregnation
    
4. Surface Treatment
   Anodizing
   Antiquing
   Blackening
   Chromate Conversion
   Electropolishing
   Electro-Chemical Machining
   Metal Coloring
   Phosphate Coating
   Painting

Powder Coating

Solid Film Coating

Plating Application

1. Brass Plating is used to improve the cosmetic appear, such as lightening fixtures. It is also used as lubricant coating in wire drawong.
    
2. Acid copper plating are generally used for printed circuit board and built up plate in plastic plating. Bright acid copper is used for decorative plating.
    
3. Cyanide copper plating are used to plate steels, zinc die casting, aluminum and magnesium alloys. Other applications as stop off in heat treatment, excellent solderability and antique coating.
    
4. Pyrophosphate copper baths are used for electroforming and for other applications that deposit ductility is a must.
    
5. Electroless copper is primarily used in metallizing printed circuit holes for solder connections. It is widely used in metallizing plastic for subsequent electrolytic plating
    
6. Chromium Plating
   
   6A - Decorative chrome is used in automotive trim and most house hold product. Usually they had bright nickel deposit as underplate.
   
   6B - Hard chrome is used in most engineering applications such as shafting, plastic molds, and worn out parts.
   
   6C - Vacuum chrome deposition or sputtering is used on plastic parts that doesn’t requires wear resistance.
    
7. Gold Plating is mostly used on semiconductor lead frame, printed circuit board fingers and contacts. Many watch case and pen caps are plated with gold and gold alloys.
    
8. Nickel Plating
   
   A - Electrolytic Nickel
   
   A1 - Sulfate nickel is usually bright and high leveling. It is widely used as decorative with chromium deposit as top coat.
   
   A2 - Sulfamate nickel is a soft ductile metal and is used in engineering parts. Sulfamate nickel is also used in electronic parts that requires good solderability and wear resistance. Many electroforming parts dare plated with sulfamate nickel.
   
   A3 - Woods nickel strike is use to activate stainless steel and titanium for subsequent plating. These two metals are easily passivated and difficult to get good adhesion.
   
   B - Electroless nickel has excellent corrosion resistance, low surface friction, and extremely hard. Electroless nickel is commonly used on aluminum parts and steel like drills, and taps.
    
9. Palladium plating is used for high wear contacts and automobile ehaust converters. Palladium price is more stable and cost less than gold. Many printed circuit board fingers are plated with palladium and its alloy.
    
10. Rhodium is hard, tarnish resistance with a pleasing white metal. Rhodium is many times more expensive than gold. Acid rhodium plating is used in all jewelry and decorative items.
     
11. hilver plating is used in table utinsil and halloware. Silver is highly conductive and is used in high voltage connectors and switches. Silver bonds better than gold and cost fraction, many lead frames are plated with silver.
     
12. Tin plating ( acid ) is widely used in electronic products for corrosion resistance and excellent solderability. Tin deposit are non toxic and are used in food processing equipment and container. Tin deposit is also ductile which is used in pumps and pistons. Alkaline tin baths are used to eliminate hydrogen embrittlement deposit.
     
13. Zinc plating is mostly used on steel as sacrificial coating from corrosion. Its low cost and attractive color dominated all the hardware fastener like bolts and nuts. Bright acid zinc deposit are used in some refrigerator rack and electric fan cover.

These abstract are from the book;
"The Plating Forecast and Assurance". by Larry Yoen