Electrophoretic deposition (
EPD), is a term for a broad range of
industrial processes which includes
electrocoating,
e-coating,
cathodic electrodeposition,
anodic electrodeposition, and
electrophoretic coating, or
electrophoretic painting. A characteristic feature of this process is that
colloidal particles suspended in a
liquid medium migrate under the influence of an
electric field (
electrophoresis) and are deposited onto an
electrode. All colloidal particles that can be used to form stable
suspensions and that can carry a charge can be used in electrophoretic deposition. This includes materials such as
polymers,
pigments,
dyes,
ceramics and
metals.