Surface treatments are industrial treatment processes that make materials stronger by changing their outer layer. The process gives materials a protective coat to make them stronger, which is just like painting a wall or putting a protective case on your phone. Read on for an explanation about surface treatment processes.
How Surface Treatments Work
There are two main ways that are used to treat surfaces. The first method removes part of the surface, and this is similar to sanding wood to make it smooth. The other way adds something new to the surface, like the process of painting a car or coating a pan. Both methods help make things stronger, more attractive or work better.
Common Types of Treatments
The most basic surface treatment is cleaning, which removes dirt, oil and rust to prepare a material for other treatments. After cleaning, many items get polished to make them smooth and shiny. Painting is another common treatment, like the spray painting process used to add special coatings on car bodies. Plating is when a thin layer of metal covers another material, like chrome on a bicycle handle.
Understanding Plating
Plating is a process that uses electricity to stick metal onto surfaces. First, the item is cleaned thoroughly and then it goes into a special bath with dissolved metal. When electricity flows through the bath, the metal sticks to the surface of the item. This makes the surface stronger and often more attractive.
Equipment Needed
Many surface treatments, like the examples seen at https://www.poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/, need special equipment, especially when electricity is involved. For plating, you need power supplies that provide steady electrical current and because the chemicals used can be harsh, this equipment often needs to be kept in separate rooms away from the treatment area.
Uses Today
Surface treatments are everywhere in our daily lives. They help protect outdoor metal from rust, make kitchen appliances easier to clean and keep car paint looking shiny for many years. As technology improves, there will be new ways invented to make surface treatments better and safer for the environment.
