Plating and anodizing chemicals and supplies include metal salts, anode materials, formula additives, and other consumables for the electrodeposition or electroplating of metal films or anodized layer formation. Electrodeposition is a process which deposits a metal at the cathode from a solution of its ions. Electroplating places a substrate in a container of metallic salt solution and passes an electric current through the container. Plating and anodizing chemicals and supplies include chrome stripper solutions, nickel activator solutions, and immersion plating solutions, as well as brush plating accessories and platinized titanium anode meshes. For electroplating applications, plating and anodizing chemicals and supplies include the electrode to be plated, a plating anode (a second electrode) to complete the circuit, an electrolyte containing the metal ions to be deposited, and a direct current power source.

Plating and anodizing chemicals and supplies are used in electroplating, electroless plating, electrophoretic, metal spraying, and vacuum metallization processes. Electroplating places the substrate in a container of metallic salt solution and passes an electric current through the container. Electroless plating uses a water-based reducing agent without an external electrical source. Electrophoretic coating processes are similar to electroplating, but apply a coating made from an organic resin instead of metallic ions. Metal spraying is used with high-tensile workpieces that cannot be electroplated because of hydrogen embrittlement. Vacuum metallization is designed to minimize heat transfer and thermal short-circuiting in multi-layer applications. Plating and anodizing chemicals and supplies for specialized or proprietary processes are also available.

Plating and anodizing chemicals and supplies are often used in brass electroplating, silver electroplating, and zinc electroplating applications. Traditional silver plating uses a cyanide-based plating solution. Today, non-cyanide plating solutions are also available. Zinc electroplating is the most widely used electroplating process. Zinc plating solutions are categorized as acid chloride, alkaline non-cyanide, and cyanide. The most widely used zinc alloys for electroplating are zinc-nickel, zinc-cobalt, and zinc-iron. Plating and anodizing chemical and supplies for brass electroplating, silver electroplating, and zinc electroplating are available from a variety of suppliers.