Gold Plating – The scientific wonders of the most auspicious metal
What is gold plating?
Gold Plating is the chemical or physical deposition of gold over any other base metal surface. Gold plating is done through either traditional methods using alkalines or extremely thin sheets of gold over the metal surface or the most modern methods – known as NTGD (Nano Technology Gold Deposition). Smart Creations has over 2 decades of experience in gold plating temple decorations and temple structures across India.
Why is gold used for electroplating other metals or solid structures?
Gold is highly corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic. When coated onto other base metals, it lends its chemically rich properties to the base metal, without needing to mix the two metals into an alloy. Gold has the luster, shine & prestige that is loved across the globe. At Smart Creations, we help coat gold onto other highly conductive base materials like copper, brass & aluminum. This increases the durability of the base metal whilst amplifying its conductive properties with that of gold.
What is gold plating nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology gold deposition also known as electroplating is a process through which gold is deposited on a micron level to the base metal. 1 Micron is 0.001 millimeter in thickness. Thus it is called nano-technology because the gold deposited onto the base metal is done at such a minute scale that it covers the surface with perfectly polished, equally & evenly distributed gold. Smart Creations uses the same Nanotechnology Gold Deposition that is used for the defense systems by ISRO and NASA.
Why are temple structures gold plated?
Temples in India are a marvel of science and engineering. These temples are not only made to host the deity and their presence, but every temple also plays the same role that an eco-bubble plays for nursery plants. Temples are built on lands that are rich in electromagnetic waves and the architecture is perfectly positioned to be aligned with the larger magnetic poles of the earth. During the day, every temple is bestowed with the energy of the sun throughout the day and the energy of the moon. Temple structures like Gopurams, Dhwajstambh, Kalasams & Temple doors are made from Kasa stone or Copper. Copper is a highly conductive metal that carries these electromagnetic vibrations around the temple structure, amplifying them. Gold, being an auspicious metal with its luster, shine & hypoallergenic properties is also a very good conductor of electromagnetic waves. This creates a non-rusting, vibration amplifying & lustrous coat onto these temple structures that complements the grandeur & glory of the deity.
How are big structures gold plated?
Step 1:
Preparing the surface
In order to improve adherence of the gold onto the base metal without the interference of dust and dirt, and to keep the plating evenly distributed, free of contaminants – it is important to prepare the surface by means beyond general cleansing. This can include using abrasive materials, chemical cleaning agents, and sandblasting to prepare the surface.
Step 2:
Electro-cleansing
Post the surface preparation, Electro-cleansing is done through ultrasonic waves & steam cleaning. Removing any left of oils & cleaning agents only creates a even surface to coat on
Step 3:
Dissecting big piece into smaller segments
The smaller segments are cut in order to make them into a size that can be completely submerged into the electroplating container. At Smart Creations, we create custom containers to fit the the smallest segment.
Step 4:
Base Coat
A base coat is any other metal that acts as a medium to add for better adherence and protective qualities. These can be brass, nickel, copper or aluminium.
Step 5:
Final Coating
With time, temperature and voltage carefully controlled, the piece is submerged into the plating solution to attract ions of gold. The items to be plated are hung from a cathode bar, which is a pole with a negative electrical charge going through it. When the base metal items are submerged in the tank an electrical charge is applied and the negatively charged base metal attracts the positively charged ions present in the solution. The positively charged gold ions are submersed in the solution bath. When the cathode bar is lowered into the bath the metal gets plated. The plating thickness can be controlled by adjusting the immersion time in the plating tank.