無電鍍又稱之為化學鍍(chemical plating)或自身催化電鍍(autocatalytic plating)。無電鍍是指於水溶液中之金屬離子被在控制之環境下,予以化學還元 ,而不需電力鍍在基材(substrate)上。ASTM B374之標準定義為 Autocatalytic plating -〝deposition of a metallic coating by a controlled chemical reduction that is catalyzed by the metal or alloy being deposited〞。其 過程(process)不同於浸鍍(immersion plating),它的金屬鍍層是連續的(continu- ous)、自身具有催化性的(autocatalytic)。