Vacuum electroplating is a process in which various metal and non-metal films are deposited on the surface of plastic parts through distillation or sputtering under vacuum conditions. This process can produce very thin surface coatings with fast speed and good adhesion, but it is relatively expensive and can only be used with a limited number of metals. It is generally used for high-end products with functional coatings, such as internal shielding layers.
In the case of stainless steel jewelry, the process used is called vacuum ion plating, also known as vacuum coating. Vacuum ion plating is a popular method that produces products with strong metallic appearance and high brightness for stainless steel jewelry. Compared to other coating methods, it is relatively low cost and has less environmental pollution. But with highlight on jewelry products quality.
On the other hand, if one wants to plate stainless steel jewelry with gold, the recommended method is to use a furnace for vacuum electroplating. This involves a chemical reaction between a gold target and the product inside a high-temperature furnace, resulting in a strong and durable gold layer with good adhesion. However, the process is complex and relatively expensive, and it can only be used for small stainless steel products. Therefore, it is not widely used and is generally only used for electroplating stainless steel jewelry, watches, and digital accessories. For other materials, water plating or other electroplating processes should be used, with targeted selection of film processing techniques to effectively improve product quality.
