Riassunto analitico
The activity presented in this work focuses on the galvanic electrodeposition process and the phenomenological aspects involved in this deposition technique. The possibility of producing single-layer or multi-layer metal coatings with protective, functional or decorative capabilities, determines the keen interest in industry for this process in the automotive, aerospace, electronics and decorative galvanic sectors. Depositing the exact amount of metal and obtaining a coating that evenly covers the substrate is the current technological challenge. This because the coating thickness, composition and morphology, affect the mechanical and anticorrosive properties, cost, color and aesthetic appearance of the metal finishing. Until a few decades ago the operator skill was the key to successful plating. Currently the knowledge acquired in the field of electrochemistry and surface engineering allows to pursue an analytical, ab-initio, approach not only based on empirical deduction. This study proposes a multi-physics simulation based on mathematical models that describe the phenomena which affect the galvanic electrodeposition process and the system hydrodynamic state. The aim is to estimate the deposited coating thickness and distribution as a function of different geometric model surfaces to be coated. In principle, this approach will allow to optimize the process parameters, thus decreasing the cost related to experimental tests. The latter are particularly expensive for industries dealing with precious metal deposition. Simplified 2D and 3D models were created starting from industrial galvanic tank and electrodes, which are the target to be coated. In particular, FEM simulations relating to copper deposition were carried out. Finally, a comparative analysis was performed concerning different hardware resources, depending on hardware availability, recording the computation time, i.e. feasibility, required to run this kind of simulations.
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