Plating on Glass

A key part of the electroplating process is the use of electricity to deposit the desired material onto the surface of a substrate. However, if the substrate being plated is non-conductive (glass, plastic, and ceramic), then the desired coating will not be deposited. 

In order to properly electroplate non-conductive materials, their surface must be made conductive. This is why non-conductive substrates require an electroless nickel base layer (or another autocatalytic material) to be plated first, allowing subsequent surface finishes to be applied.

In the case of glass, the substrate is much more fragile than a majority of the traditional metal substrates commonly seen in the industry. Due to its fragility, the glass plating process can become even more complex than its other non-conductive peers and require more attention during the process. 

Glass itself has great thermal resistance and finds a ton of usage across a multitude of industries. Many crucial biomedical and aerospace components require plated glass parts to function. Components such as diodes and vacuum tubes benefit greatly from plated glass. 

Note: Due to the complexity of the non-conductive substrate plating process, it is important to account for thickness, dimensional variation, and component draining ability (through hole).