Why are some copper parts plated?

After machining copper parts, customers often require copper parts to be plated. Usually include: nickel plated, zinc plated, silver plated, tin plated, etc.. So, why are some copper parts plated?

Electroplating can make the surface of copper parts adhere to a layer of metal film, so as to prevent the oxidation of copper parts, improve the wear resistance, conductivity, reflection, corrosion resistance (copper sulfate, etc.) and enhance the beauty and so on.

Nickel plated copper is nickel plated on copper substrate. After copper nickel plating can prevent the migration of copper atoms. Nickel is inert to protect copper from oxidation. Make nickel plated copper parts in the atmosphere and lye chemical stability, not easy to change color, more than 600 degrees Celsius before being oxidized. High hardness, easy to polish, and the disadvantage is porosity.

Zinc plated copper refers to the surface of copper parts coated with zinc, in order to play the role of beauty, rust prevention and other surface treatment technology. The main method used is hot-dip galvanizing. Copper has less contact resistance after zinc plating and is not easy to oxidize. Moreover, it can also improve the corrosion resistance of copper parts.

Copper silver plating refers to the surface of copper parts coated with silver to play the role of increasing conductivity. When the alternating current is in the conductor, the skin effect is caused by Lenz law, that is, the current density in the surface is larger than the current density inside the conductor. It is equivalent to narrowing the cross section of the conductor and greatly improving the resistance of the conductor. Therefore, if the surface of the conductor is plated silver, the surface resistance can be reduced so as to improve the conductivity of the conductor as a whole.

Tinned copper prevents copper from being exposed to the air and is oxidized to form a layer of patina, while the poor conductivity of the patina increases the resistance. In addition, containers containing food may be harmful to humans if they produce patina.