The need for digitalisation in electroplating - How digital approaches can help to optimize the electrodeposition of chromium from trivalent electrolytes

Description In order to make material design processes more efficient in the future, the underlying multidimensional process parameter spaces must be systematically explored using digitalisation techniques such as machine learning (ML) and digital simulation. In this paper we shortly review essential concepts for the digitalisation of electrodeposition processes with a special focus on chromium plating from trivalent electrolytes. Introduction Electrodeposition is a powerful technique to give the surface of materials special properties. Depending on the application the electrodeposited coating must have specific physical and chemical properties. For example, a hard chromium layer usually should have a minimum thickness of several microns with optimized tribological properties, whereas a bright chromium layer should be relatively thin