Types of Metal Platings and How to Tell the Difference

When it comes to creating custom metal items like custom keychains, coins, medals, and lapel pins, the type of metal plating plays a huge role in both appearance and durability. That’s where metal plating comes in. With a thin layer of metal applied over a base metal, plating enhances both the look and performance of your item—without breaking the bank. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the all the types of metal plating, their characteristics, and how to choose the right one for your project.

What is Metal Plating?

Metal plating is the process of applying a thin coating of metal onto the surface of another base material, such as zinc alloy, iron, or brass. Rather than crafting your item from a solid block of precious metal (which would be cost-prohibitive), we mold your item from a durable, affordable base and apply a metal coating over it. The result? A high-end look with long-lasting performance.

How Does Electroplating Work?

The electroplating process is the most common method used for plating metal. Here’s a simplified version of how it works:

1. The base metal (called the cathode) and the plating material (called the anode) are placed in an electrolyte solution.
2. An electric current is passed through the solution.
3. Metal ions from the plating material bond to the surface of the base metal, forming an even and secure thin layer.

This process allows us to apply a protective coating that’s not only visually appealing but also improves resistance to wear, corrosion, and environmental factors. This is perfect for items like custom challenge coins that can see lots of wear and tear.

Common Types of Metal Plating

Gold Plating

One of the most requested types of metal plating, gold plating adds instant elegance to any custom product. We offer several styles:

• Shiny Gold Plating: Bright and reflective
• Antique Gold Plating: A more subdued, vintage look
• Rose Gold Plating: A softer, pink-hued finish for a modern touch

Gold plating is perfect for adding aesthetic appeal to gold lapel pins, commemorative coins, and more. It also offers a degree of chemical resistance, making it both beautiful and functional.

Silver Plating

Silver plating offers a sleek, cool-toned finish. Like gold, silver is available in both shiny and antique styles. It’s a popular option for clients looking for a classic and clean look, especially for custom coins, pins, and metal parts.

Chrome Plating

Known for its highly reflective and bright finish, chrome plating (sometimes referred to as chromium plating) is ideal for projects that need to shine. This plating is popular in the automotive industry and offers excellent heat resistance and wear-resistant properties. It’s also valued for its surface finish and durability in harsh environments. Offers a brilliant appearance on custom ornaments as they shimmer on a Christmas Tree.

Bronze Plating

Bronze plating is often confused with gold due to its similar appearance. However, bronze has a warmer, more earthy tone. It pairs beautifully with enamel colors and is available in shiny and antique finishes. Clients often choose bronze for a lower cost alternative to gold that still brings strong aesthetic appeals, metal keychains, and coins!

Nickel Plating

Nickel plating provides a metal coating that’s slightly warmer than silver and highly reflective. It’s a solid choice for 3D lapel pins and is often used in both electronic components and automotive parts. We also offer:

• Antique Nickel
• Black Nickel: Offers a darker tone with a modern feel, often used for outlining detailed designs.

Copper Plating

Copper plating is the closest color equivalent to what a cartoon series would make a 3rd place racing medal look like. Copper is a solid warm color in the red family, a stark difference between the other plating options. It is one of our top choices if you want a more rustic finish for an antique look simply because of the amazing quality of the worn metal look.

• Shiny Copper
• Antique Copper

Zinc Plating

Zinc plating offers great protection against galvanic corrosion and is often used in industrial applications. It’s affordable and offers good adhesion to the base metal. Zinc is sometimes combined with nickel in zinc-nickel plating for added strength. This is something that we unfortunately don’t offer.

Dual Plating

Want to make your design really stand out? Dual plating allows for two types of metal to be used on the same product—typically gold and silver plating. This adds contrast and uniqueness to your piece. Though slightly more expensive, dual plating is a top choice for eye-catching aesthetic appeal.

Electroless Nickel Plating

Unlike electroplating, Electroless nickel plating doesn’t require an electric current. Instead, it uses a chemical reaction to apply the metal layer. This method is known for producing an even coating, especially on complex shapes. It’s widely used in the aerospace industry, medical devices, and marine industries due to its heat resistance and ability to cover intricate surfaces evenly.

Immersion Plating

Immersion plating is a unique process where a different metal is deposited on a base material without using an electrical current. Instead, a chemical solution facilitates the transfer of metal ions onto the substrate material. Though the resulting thin layer may not be as robust as electroplated layers, it provides excellent coverage and is commonly used on stainless steel components and various metal alloys. Because of its simplicity, immersion plating is widely used for small-scale or delicate metal parts.

Rhodium Plating

A precious metal, rhodium plating is often used for jewelry and medical industry applications because of its durability, shine, and resistance to tarnishing. It’s typically applied over white gold or silver to enhance the brightness and longevity. We see this commonly in employees’ custom service pins.

The Benefits of Metal Plating

• Aesthetic appeal: Enhances the look with a polished or antique finish
• Corrosion resistance: Protects against moisture and harsh conditions
• Wear resistance: Extends the lifespan of the product
• Heat resistance: Useful for parts exposed to high temperatures
• Cost-effective solution: Offers the look of precious metals at a lower cost
• Adaptability: Suitable for stainless steel, different metal bases, and a range of various metal types

Applications in Various Industries

Metal plating isn’t just for decorative pieces. It’s used across a wide range of industries:

• Automotive industry: Chrome plating and nickel plating for car parts
• Medical industry: Rhodium and electroless nickel plating for tools and medical devices
• Electronics industry: Copper and zinc plating for electronic components and circuit boards
• Aerospace industry: Electroless plating for its even coating on complex shapes
• Heat treatment industries: Applications where high temperatures and durability are required, such as engine components

Surface Preparation and Finishing

Before the metal plating process begins, thorough surface preparation is essential. Removing any oxide layer from the metal surface ensures the plating material bonds securely to the substrate’s surface. A high-quality finishing process is the final step, ensuring your product is ready for its intended use—whether decorative or functional. In some cases, substances like chromic acid may be used during prep, especially in industrial applications requiring additional durability.

Choosing the Right Type of Plating

There are different types of metal plating, and the best one depends on your specific needs. Consider:

• Functionality (e.g., corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity)
• Visual style (e.g., shiny vs. antique, gold vs. bronze)
• Budget (e.g., single vs. dual plating)
• Specific applications (e.g., jewelry, electronics, medals)

Still unsure? We’re here to help. Share your design, and we’ll walk you through the different types of plating options to find your perfect match.

Get Expert Guidance

If you’re not sure which plating type is best for your project, reach out! Our team at The Monterey Company is happy to provide recommendations based on your design and usage goals. From surface finishing to selecting the right plating material, we’ll guide you through every step of the process.

Submit your quote request today, and let’s get your next project shining!