Electrolytic deposition system including hydrogels and methods of using same

A reactive electrochemical application system comprising:

• a power supply;
• a hydrogel comprising an electroplating reactive chemical solution;
• a first wire electrically coupled to the power supply and the hydrogel to define an anode;
• and
• a second wire electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to be electrically coupled to a substrate to define a cathode;
• wherein the hydrogel is configured to contact the substrate, the power supply is configured to pass a current through the hydrogel and the substrate, and the electroplating reactive chemical solution is configured to electroplate the substrate when the current is passed through the hydrogel and the substrate.

A reactive electrochemical application system comprising:

• a power supply;
• a hydrogel comprising an anodizing reactive chemical solution;
• a first wire electrically coupled to the power supply and the hydrogel to define a cathode;
• and
• a second wire electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to be electrically coupled to a substrate to define an anode;
• wherein the hydrogel is configured to contact the substrate, the power supply is configured to pass a current through the hydrogel and the substrate, and the anodizing reactive chemical solution is configured to anodize the substrate when the current is passed through the hydrogel and the substrate.

A reactive electrochemical application system comprising:

• a power supply;
• a hydrogel comprising a conversion coating reactive chemical solution;
• a first wire electrically coupled to the power supply and the hydrogel;
• and
• a second wire electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to be electrically coupled to a substrate;
• wherein the hydrogel is configured to contact the substrate, the power supply is configured to pass a current through the hydrogel and the substrate, and the conversion coating reactive chemical solution is configured to form a conversion coating on the substrate when the current is passed through the hydrogel and the substrate.

An electrolytic applicator comprising:

• a first liner;
• an electrode attached to the first liner;
• a hydrogel attached to the first liner and the electrode;
• and
• a second liner removably attached to the hydrogel;
• wherein the hydrogel comprises a reactive chemical solution.

A method of anodizing a substrate with a reactive electrochemical application system, the reactive electrochemical application system comprising a power supply, a hydrogel comprising an anodizing reactive chemical solution, a first wire electrically coupled to the power supply and the hydrogel to define a cathode, and a second wire electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to be electrically coupled to a substrate to define an anode, the method comprising:

• attaching the hydrogel to the substrate;
• electrically coupling the second wire to the substrate;
• and
• passing an electric current through the hydrogel and the substrate to anodize the substrate.

A method of electroplating a substrate with a reactive electrochemical application system, the reactive electrochemical application system comprising a power supply, a hydrogel comprising an electroplating reactive chemical solution, a first wire electrically coupled to the power supply and the hydrogel to define an anode, and a second wire electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to be electrically coupled to a substrate to define a cathode, the method comprising:

• attaching the hydrogel to the substrate;
• electrically coupling the second wire to the substrate;
• and
• passing an electric current through the hydrogel and the substrate to electroplate the substrate.

A method of forming a conversion coating on a substrate with a reactive electrochemical application system, the reactive electrochemical application system comprising a power supply, a hydrogel comprising a conversion coating reactive chemical solution, a first wire electrically coupled to the power supply and the hydrogel, and a second wire electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to be electrically coupled to a substrate, the method comprising:

• attaching the hydrogel to the substrate;
• electrically coupling the second wire to the substrate;
• and
• passing an electric current through the hydrogel and the substrate to form a conversion coating on the substrate.