Definition:

The production of a thin surface coating of one metal upon another by electrodeposition. Ferrous or nonferrous basis materials may be coated by a variety of common (copper, nickel, lead, aluminum or combinations thereof) or precious (gold, silver, platinum, osmium, iridium, palladium, rhodium, indium, ruthenium, or combinations thereof) metals. In electroplating, metal irons supplied by the dissolution of metal from anodes or other pieces, are reduced on the work pieces (cathodes) while in either acid, alkaline, or neutral solutions.