ELECTRO-PLATING PROCESS

An electrolytic process for metal-coating the surface of a workpiece of an electrically conductive material, which process comprises: i) providing an electrolytic cell with a cathode comprising the surface of the workpiece and an anode; ii) introducing an electrolyte comprising a aqueous solution containing one or more water soluble compounds of the metal or metals to be deposited into the zone created between the anode and the cathode in a manner such that the cathode is bathed but not immersed in the said electrolyte; and iii) applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, characterized in that iv) an electrical plasma arc is maintained between the anode and cathode during the deposition of the metal-coating onto the surface of the cathode.