The customers of the electroplating industry vary. Their needs may differ as to substrate material and the plating layer. Several industries turn to the characteristics of gold to achieve the quality they require for their components and, through them, the final product. For some, gold electroplating is, if you pardon the pun, the Gold Standard for their industry.
What Industries Utilize Gold Electroplating
Gold has always been popular among certain industries. It is no surprise that gold plating has been an important part of the jewelry and dish and silverware industries for centuries. Gold plated jewelry, plates and other household and/or decorative items have been popular for various reasons in times past. While silver plated dinnerware is more common than its gold plated counterparts are, gold and silver jewelry remain eternally and equally popular.
Yet, the jewelry trade has not been the sole market for gold electroplated items. Other industries also find the process beneficial for their products. Among them are these industries:
* Aerospace
* Medical
* Telecommunications
Yet, one of the industries in which gold electroplating is consistently in high demand is the electronics industry.
Gold Electroplating in the Electronics Industry
Gold electroplating as employed in the electronics industry may assume one of two basic types. These consist of:
* Soft, Pure Gold Electroplating: This type of gold, ranging between 60 and 85 on the Knoop hardness scale, is used in semiconductors and printed circuit boards. The technique of application varies for each. Soft gold has the characteristic of being easy to solder and wire bound.
* Bright Hard Gold Electroplating: The harness of this type of gold ranges between 120 and 300 on Knoop hardness scale. Its use is not for semiconductors but for circuit board tabs and contacts.
Overall, gold electroplating finds favor among electronics manufacturers in the production of electrical connectors and circuit boards. In such instances, the base layer or substrate is frequently copper. However, since directly electroplating gold over copper can result in the formation of an oxide and/or sulphide layer, as well as tarnishing, the process requires the application of a barrier layer. Nickel tends to be the metal chosen to play this role.
Why the Electronics Industry Uses Gold Electroplating
The rationale for the electronics industry using gold electroplating is simple. It improves the original product or component substantially while not raising the cost significantly. Gold electroplating provides the base metals it covers with several desirable qualities including:
* Corrosion resistance
* Electrical conductivity that is uniform
* Durability
* Solderability
* Non-reactivity with other metals
Gold Electroplating: An Electronic Solution
When it comes to providing the public with high quality and durable electronic components, many manufacturers turn to the process of electroplating. They realize its benefits – including cost-effectiveness. They also understand that plating items with another metal will improve not only the quality but also the overall appearance of the product. In the electronics industry, this can go a long way towards selling the item. It is no wonder, therefore, that certain electronics components and products, find gold electroplating is truly the best route to take.
