A STUDY OF ELECTROPLATING PROCESS THROUGH EXPERIMENT AND SIMULATION

Electroplating is an economically important process, often used to reduce corrosion and improve the appearance of objects. During electroplating a thin layer of desirable metal is deposited onto another object. The effect of some process parameters on the weight and thickness of zinc deposited on mild steel in a typical electroplating process is reported. This study indicates that the weight and thickness of zinc deposited on mild steel during the process is affected by plating time, voltage distribution, distance between electrodes and their positioning. It also validates the experimental results by simulation using COMSOL software. Simulation of electroplating acts as a prototype for the process wherein one can predict the outcome before the actual plating. This can help to estimate the time required for obtaining particular quantity of metal deposited(weight and thickness) and vice versa. Results led to the conclusion that as experimental time increases the coating thickness increases. Also, increase of distance of workpiece from center leads to decrease in coating thickness which is evident from microscopic images of surface coatings.