Letter 17053

Electroplating metals questions 

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What are two practical uses of electroplating and why do we electroplate metals. What are electroplated metals used for.

NAFATEERI pHAROH
- Guyana

There are a half dozen different electroplated metals in the computer you just typed your question onto, Nafateeri -- including copper, nickel, tin, gold, and maybe some silver, palladium, and chromium. Some of it for carrying current, some for corrosion resistance, some for decorative reason. So electroplated metals allow you to play video games and post your homework questions. There's a starting point for research at the library. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

I couldn't help but read past questions asked by students inquring about electroplating. And this is directed towards you Ted. You should be happy that these kids are coming to you, asking for help and for advice, towards a topic many people know nothing about and don't really care for. Maybe you should be of more assistance, instead of rude. As far as I am concerned, I don't care what metals in my computer are electroplated, because playing computer games doesn't apply to the questions being asked.

Theresa
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I am happy when a student who needs extra direction comes to us with a well thought out question, Theresa. I and other readers have helped countless hundreds of students here.

But exactly why do you think I should feel grateful that a student has cut & pasted his homework assignment into our website, waiting for us to write an essay for them that he can once again cut & paste and submit as his "research"?

Why didn't Nafateeri just ask his teacher for the answer instead of us? Because his teacher will say "Don't ask me or anybody; do your own research!" He's not supposed to ask someone to do it for him. I don't know how else to respond without undercutting his teacher's wishes. If Nafateeri feels I was rude, he should ask his his teacher to submit a complaint. But that won't happen because he already knows that he wasn't supposed to post his homework assignment.

I gave him a starting point by telling him that there are a half dozen applications of electroplating just in computers. I thought it might interest him to relate electroplating to his probable interest in videogames and computers, rather than talking about obscure applications like electroplating as a stop-off for heat treatment or as an absorber of certain infrared frequencies.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

can you please tell me of some specific applications for engineering in regards to electroplating?

josh melville
- little rock, arkansas, america

There are countless examples, Josh. Some alloys can be created only through electroplating rather than by mixing molten metals. Components of certain shapes like ultrafine screening and hollow gold jewelry can only be made by electroplating. Electroplating also allows us to make parts of strong flexible materials like steel, while having surfaces of hard brittle materials like chromium or nickel-diamond composites so that we can have molds and cutting tools and machine parts and truck bumpers that will wear well while not being subject to fracturing. Take these terms and concepts to the library and see what you can dig up.

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, NJ

Hi, my name is Josh from Hollister Ca. and I was just wondering what are some benefits of electroplating an item with a metal?

Josh F
Student - CA, United States

Hello, Josh. Please phrase your question is a way that demonstrates that you have read the answers already provided and just need clarification on something that you couldn't follow.

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, NJ

I want to post a question or inquiry of my own.

 

I want to answer or follow-up on this question publicly (in non-commercial fashion).