What’s the Difference Between Electroplating and Electrocoating?

Feeling confused by all the different metal finishing processes out there? You’re not alone! It’s easy to get lost in the jargon and technical details.

Electroplating and electrocoating are both processes used to apply a coating to a surface, but they differ in the type of coating material and the mechanism. Electroplating uses a metal coating, while electrocoating typically uses an organic, paint-like coating.

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Let’s break down these processes further to clear up any confusion and delve into some related techniques, and the differences between coating and plating.

Is electroplating the same as electropolishing?

Struggling to understand the nuances between seemingly similar surface finishing methods¹? This can affect the choice of the correct way.

Electroplating² and electropolishing are, in fact, opposite processes. Electroplating adds a metallic layer to a substrate, while electropolishing removes material to create a smoother, brighter surface.

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Dive Deeper: Electroplating vs. electropolishing

Electropolishing³ is often used as a final step after electroplating to further refine the surface. It’s like the difference between building something up (plating) and then smoothing it down (polishing). To understand these differences better, we can examine the methods using the categories: process, purpose, materials, and applications.

Feature	Electroplating	Electropolishing
Process	Uses an electric current to reduce dissolved metal cations, forming a thin, coherent metal coating on an electrode (the substrate).	Uses an electric current to remove metal ions from the surface of a metal object, essentially acting as a controlled corrosion process.
Purpose	To enhance properties like corrosion resistance, wear resistance, aesthetics, or to build up worn surfaces.	To create a smooth, bright, and highly reflective surface; to deburr, passivate, and improve corrosion resistance.
Materials	Can be used with a wide variety of metals, including gold, silver, nickel, copper, chromium, and zinc. The substrate is typically also metallic.	Primarily used on metals like stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium.
Applications	Jewelry, automotive parts, electronics, tools, and any application where a protective or decorative metal coating is needed.	Medical implants, aerospace components, food processing equipment, and applications requiring ultra-clean, smooth surfaces.

Understanding the distinct goals of each process—building up versus smoothing down—is key to grasping their fundamental differences.

What is the difference between electroplating and thermoplastic?

Are you feeling confused with coating terminology? It’s challenging to select the best method for your projects.

Electroplating is a process that applies a metallic⁴ coating using electricity. Thermoplastic is a type of polymer⁵ that softens when heated and hardens when cooled, and it’s not directly related to electroplating.

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Dive Deeper: Electroplating vs. Thermoplastic

These two terms relate to completely different aspects of materials and processing. One is a surface treatment⁶, the other is a material type.

Feature	Electroplating	Thermoplastic
Nature	A process for applying a metallic coating.	A material (polymer) that can be repeatedly softened by heating and solidified by cooling.
Mechanism	Uses electrical current and an electrolyte solution.	Relies on changes in physical state due to temperature variations.
Application	Applied to a substrate (often metal) to change its surface properties.	Is the material used to make the object itself, or a thick coating.
Examples/Use	Chrome plating on car bumpers, gold plating on jewelry.	PVC pipes, nylon gears, polyethylene containers.

One analogy is that electroplating is like painting a metal fence (adding a layer), while thermoplastic is like making a sculpture out of clay that can be reshaped (the material itself).

What is the difference between electroplating and electrodeposition?

Confused if electroplating and electrodeposition⁷ are identical or different? The terms seem similar.

Electroplating is actually a type of electrodeposition. Electrodeposition is the broader term for any process that uses electrical current to deposit a material onto a substrate. Electroplating specifically refers to the deposition of a metal.

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Dive Deeper: Electroplating vs. Electrodeposition

Think of it this way: electrodeposition is the umbrella term, and electroplating is one specific technique under that umbrella.

Feature	Electrodeposition	Electroplating
Definition	A general process where an electric current is used to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of the material. This material can be a metal, polymer, ceramic, or composite.	A specific type of electrodeposition where the deposited material is a metal.
Scope	Broader, encompassing various types of coatings.	Narrower, focusing solely on metallic coatings8.
Example	Electrocoating with paint (using organic compounds) is an example of electrodeposition, but it is not electroplating.	Depositing a layer of copper onto a steel part is electroplating (and also electrodeposition).

In short, all electroplating is electrodeposition, but not all electrodeposition is electroplating.

What is the difference between coating and plating?

Are you mixing "coating" and "plating,"? It’s easy to make mistakes.

"Plating" generally refers to the application of a metallic layer, often through electroplating. "Coating" is a broader term that encompasses any application of a layer, metallic or non-metallic, to a substrate.

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Dive Deeper: Coating vs. Plating

The key distinction lies in the material being applied. Plating is usually metal, while coating can be anything.

Feature	Coating	Plating
Material	Can be metallic, organic (paint, polymers), ceramic, or composite.	Typically metallic.
Application	Can be applied through various methods: spraying, dipping, brushing, electrodeposition (including electroplating), etc.	Often implies electroplating, but can also include other methods like electroless plating.
Examples	Painting a wall, applying a polymer film to protect a surface, ceramic coating on a turbine blade.	Chrome plating on a faucet, gold plating on jewelry.

Think of plating as a subset of coating. All plating is a type of coating, but not all coatings are plating.

What is another name for electroplating?

Do not know the other name of electroplating? The lack of knowledge about technical terms limits one’s understanding.

Another name for electroplating is "electrodeposition," although, as noted above, electrodeposition is technically the broader term. Sometimes, it’s also referred to as "galvanization⁹" but galvanization usually refers to zinc coating.

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Dive Deeper: Synonyms and Related Terms

While "electrodeposition" is the most accurate broader term, you might also hear:

• Galvanizing: This specifically refers to applying a zinc coating, usually to steel, for corrosion protection. While it can be done via electroplating, hot-dip galvanizing is more common. So, galvanizing is a type of electroplating (when done electrically), but not a perfect synonym.
• Electrolytic Coating¹⁰: Not so popular, but used.

The key takeaway is that while "electrodeposition" encompasses electroplating, the reverse isn’t always true.

Conclusion

Electroplating, electrocoating, electropolishing, and other related terms can be confusing. But the critical differences come down to the materials used and whether material is being added or removed. Understanding these distinctions will help you choose the right process for your specific needs.

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