Powlekanie

Powlekanie is a general term for the application of a coating onto a surface to alter its properties. In industrial and technical contexts, powlekanie covers a wide range of processes that deposit or apply thin layers of material on a substrate, for purposes such as corrosion protection, wear resistance, thermal or electrical insulation, aesthetics, or surface finish. The term encompasses electrochemical methods (electroplating and electroless plating), physical deposition (vacuum deposition like PVD and CVD, sputtering; thermal spraying), and organic coatings such as paints and powder coatings. The choice of method depends on the substrate, required coating thickness, environmental exposure, and cost.

Common coating chemistries include metals (nickel, chromium, zinc and alloys), ceramics, polymers, and composite coatings. Substrate preparation—degreasing, cleaning, roughening—is critical for adhesion and coating performance. Coating thickness is controlled, often with measurements and nondestructive testing; properties such as adhesion, porosity, hardness, and corrosion resistance are evaluated. Environmental and health considerations influence process selection, with regulatory controls on emissions and hazardous materials.

Applications span automotive and aerospace parts, fasteners, tools, electronics, architectural elements, and pipeline components. Modern powlekanie also includes nanostructured or multi-layer coatings that combine functions, such as hard wear-resistant top layers with corrosion-resistant underlayers.

History: surface coating practices date back to ancient gilding and painting; industrial-scale electroplating and modern coating technologies emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, expanding the range of available finishes.

See also: painting, electroplating, powder coating, anodizing, PVD, CVD, thermal spraying.