Rare earth elements have unique properties: high corrosion resistance, high wear resistance, high-magnetic, superconducting, high catalytic activity and high hydrogen storage, etc., is an integral part of modern science and technology of functional materials, the "industrial monosodium glutamate" in said use is widespread. China has abundant mineral resources of rare earth, rare earth reserves account for about 80% of the world, have been blessed.

    The early 1980s, China's science and technology workers to the field of rare earth elements into plating. First, add in the chrome-plated rare earth electrolyte additives to RE3 + instead of Cr3 +, greatly improved the performance of the bath, so that the deposition of chromium faster, improve the cathodic current efficiency, improved coverage and dispersion bath, reduce the cell voltage the bath temperature and the mass concentration of chromic anhydride, traditional chrome plating a big step forward, creating a rare earth application in electroplating precedent.

    Since then, the rare earth elements in the electrodeposition process of electrochemical research has become the focus of attention of workers, the new results continue to emerge, a variety of rare earth additives have come out, its applications are becoming increasingly widespread. To sum up briefly, the following areas:

    1) In addition to single metal chrome plating, but in the zinc, copper electrolyte by adding rare earth additives can fine grain dense coating, corrosion performance; adding cerium in tin compounds, in addition to the coating bright and detailed, and improved weldability and oxidation resistance, but also can prevent the "tin plague" of the place, to ensure that tin plating of electronic components in use in the safety and reliability.

    2) extensive use of alloy plating in alkaline plating Ni-Fe alloy electroplating solution add a small amount of scandium, praseodymium and neodymium compounds, can enhance the stability of the bath to improve the cathode current efficiency, coating evenly fine, smooth and shining; in Zn-Ni alloy plating solution by adding cerium, nickel coating can improve the quality scores, while improving coating performance; In addition, the power deposition obtained by the mass fraction of cerium 0.1% to 0.5% of the Sn-Ce alloy coating, and welding is not only anti-discoloration performance, but also effectively prevent the "tin whisker" formation.

    3) Brush plating bath in the electric brush to add different types of rare earth ions can act as a catalyst to accelerate the electrode reaction rate, improved wear resistance and corrosion resistance coating, applied to re-create the project , played a good role.

    4) Electroless plating process in the application of rare earth additives can improve the coating deposition rate, and enhance the stability of the bath, to extend the life cycle. More prominent example is the application of electroless nickel cerium-containing additives, Ni-P alloy coating can improve performance, the coating hardness up to 1000HV after heat treatment above.

    5) composite plating composite coating surface treatment of the rise in recent years, new technology. Studies have shown that: in some chemical composite plating process, adding the appropriate amount of rare earth compounds in the bath, showing the unique strengths in promoting the insoluble solid particles and metal ions were deposited to improve the solid particles in the mass fraction of coating, enhance the coating hardness and wear resistance. If the chrome plating solution by adding rare earth promoter, electrodeposition Cr-SiC composite coating, the wear resistance 60% higher than the chromium plating; Again silver electrodeposition Ag-La2O3-based composite coatings for electrical switch contacts made to replace Silver contacts, greatly improving the ability of resistance to electrical erosion burns.

    6) Diamond tool Diamond tool technology, by adding lanthanum, cerium and other rare earth elements, can improve the binding force of diamond and the matrix to enhance the cutting tool.

    In short, the rare earth elements in the application of electroplating technology has made people urge the purpose of results. The amount of rare earth elements is characterized by the use of the role of small and large. This is to improve the coating performance, resource conservation and environmental protection is very beneficial, can be expected that the application of rare earth elements in plating technology, especially in the development of functional coatings and applications, has great potential and broad prospects.

ZheJiang DongYang Strong Electron Co., Ltd