Electroplating & Surface Finishing

Recommended Time & Experience:   The CEF Prep Course and Exam covers advanced processes and techniques that require a ‎strong Foundation in chemistry and math only provided through work experience and/or ‎specialized training. 

The course and exam are structured for an individual who has at least 3 ‎years’ experience in the surface finishing industry.  A two-year degree or higher in a STEM related program is helpful but not required.  

Description: This course will provide a broad range of knowledge and understanding of the chemistry, processes, equipment, troubleshooting, and quality control ‎common in the Plating and Surface Finishing.‎

Designed For:  But not limited to: Operators and Supervisors of job shops and captive shops applying a broad range of surface finishes on a variety of substrates. The course is also beneficial to sales personnel serving the metal finishing industry.

Course Content Level:  Advanced (300 level) ‎

Approx Hours to Complete:  40 Hours‎

Learning Objectives:  Those completing this course and/or earning the CEF certification are able to demonstrate:‎

  • Expertise in each step of the surface finishing process from preparation & manufacturing to final inspection.‎
  • A comprehensive understanding of the equipment required/used in the Plating/Surface Finishing process.
  • The ability to anticipate, recognize, diagnose, troubleshoot, and correct surface ‎finishing discrepancies, anomalies, or defects.‎
  • Competence in matching plating strategy to the end-use application and ‎environment. ‎

Course Options

Dates: June 4-7, 2024
Registration Deadline: May 28, 2024
Location: Atlanta, GA
Member: $2,050 | Non-Member: $2,450

Date: June 8, 2024
Registration Deadline: May 28, 2024
Location: Atlanta, GA
Member: $160 | Non-Member: $240

Course Description – Part 1

1. Chemistry
This lesson covers basic chemistry principles that must be understood in order to fully comprehend the plating process. The lesson begins with the structure of atoms and builds to an understanding of chemical reactions as they are used to process parts for plating and post-plating processes.
2. Electricity
This lesson discusses basic principles in electricity, beginning with Ohm’s Law. Basic rectification principles, how ammeters and voltmeters work, and how current is distributed over a part are important concepts of this lesson. A special focus is given to the role of anodes and the calculation of current density.
3. Electrochemistry
This lesson begins with Faraday’s Law and showsm how it can be used to predict plating time. The lesson goes on to the Electromotive Force Series, how the corrosion behavior of metals can be predicted, and how the EMF series can explain processes such as immersion deposits. Polarization in plating, current distribution and factors affecting deposit structurem are also covered.
4. Metallic Corrosion
This lesson covers the basic principles of corrosion, including chemical attack, galvanic corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, filiform corrosion and fretting. The corrosion of common electrodeposits, including zinc, copper, nickel and chromium, is also discussed.
5. Part Fabrication

This lesson covers the various methods employed to produce parts and their impact on the plating process. Included in the discussions are the types of soils produced by manufacturing methods such as stamping, casting, forging, spin casting, drawing, extruding and powder metallurgy.

A special focus of this lesson is the causes and cures of hydrogen embrittlement. A brief discussion of soldering and brazing and their impact on cleaning is also provided.

6. Barrel, Rack and Other Plating Methods

This lesson provides an overview of the basic technologies used for electroplating. The lesson begins with barrel design and features and shows how solution chemistry and operational characteristics are different with barrel plating vs. rack plating.

The second half of the lesson focuses on racks and rack plating issues. The last part of the lesson focuses on the use of shields, robbers and other methods to modify basic current distribution conditions. A brief discussion of reel-to-reel, vibratory and brush plating is also provided.

7. Hull Cell and Other Test Cells
This lesson provides information on the use of the Hull Cell to troubleshoot and maintain a plating process. Examples of plating problems detected by the cell are given, along with a demonstration of how the cell plated after a specific treatment was applied. The lesson also covers other test cells such as the Lu Cell, the Gornall Cell, the Haring Cell and the Jiggle Cell.
8. Rinsing
This lesson discusses and provides calculation methods for conserving water without compromising process quality, including the use of counterflow rinses, spray rinses, multiple use rinses, and drag-out rinses. The lesson also discusses measurement of rinse quality using conductivity devices.
9. Filtration & Purification of Surface Finishing Solutions
This lesson focuses on maintaining a metal finishing process through proper filtration techniques, carbon treatment, and electrolytic purification.
10. Preparing Metals for Plating
This lesson will provide guidance on preparing steel, stainless steel, copper, zinc, and aluminum alloy substrates for plating. Ultrasonic cleaning, vapor degreasing, soak cleaning, electrocleaning, descaling and acid pickling are covered. A special focus is given to the zincating of aluminum alloys.
11. Testing of Plated Deposits
This lesson describes the common quality tests used on plated and anodic coatings. Include are tests for thickness, adhesion, accelerated corrosion, hardness, residual stress, ductility, wear, surface roughness and hydrogen embrittlement.

Course Description – Part 2

12. Zinc Plating
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the main zinc plating solutions used in metal finishing: alkaline non-cyanide, acid chloride and cyanide. Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process.
13. Chromates, Phosphates & Black Oxide
This lesson covers chemical make-up and operational conditions for conversion coatings including chromates, phosphates and black oxide. Conversion coatings over plated metals and aluminum are covered. The section on phosphating includes iron, zinc and manganese phosphate processes; the black oxide section covers the most common coatings for steel. Equipment issues are covered in all subjects.
14. Copper Plating
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the main copper plating solutions used by the metal finishing industry; alkaline non-cyanide, acid sulfate and cyanide. Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process.
15. Nickel Plating
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the Watts nickel plating solution. Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process. The lesson also covers nickel strike solutions and why and where they are used.
16. Chromium Plating
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the decorative chromium plating solutions used by the metal finishing industry; trivalent and hexavalent. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process.
17. Precious Metals, Part 1: Silver, Palladium, Ruthenium
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for many of the precious metals plating solutions used in the metal finishing industry; silver, palladium, palladium nickel, and ruthenium. Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process.
18. Precious Metals, Part 2: Gold, Platinum, Rhodium
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for additional precious metals plating solutions not covered in part 1; gold, platinum and rhodium. Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process.
19. Alloy Plating
This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for commonly plated alloys such as zinc-nickel, zinc-cobalt, brass, bronze, tin-zinc, tin-cobalt, tin-lead and Alballoy®.
20. Electroless Nickel Plating

This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for both nickel-phosphorus and nickel-boron based electroless nickel plating chemistries. The section on nickel-phosphorus is divided into high, medium, medium-low and low phosphorus plating solutions.

Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed for each process. The electroless plating of poly-alloys and composites is also explored.

21. Anodizing

This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for anodizing of aluminum, magnesium and titanium, with a major focus on aluminum. Also covered are the subjects of coloring and sealing anodic coatings on aluminum.

Recently developed substitutes for chromic acid anodizing (sulfuric-boric and thin film sulfuric) are also part of this lesson. Special focus is given to the function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal and treatment are discussed.