Letter 34092

Zinc Potassium/Ammonium chloride vs Potassium chloride/boric  

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I wonder what are the advantages/disadvantages of using zinc chloride plating solution that is based in Potassium Chloride/Ammonium Chloride against Potassium Chloride/ Boric Acid.

Thanks Gracias

Guillermo Castorena
Jobshop plating - San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico

Hello Guillermo,

I switched about 1 1/2 years ago and I must say I won't be going back. Some of the everyday problems we used to see went away. The anodes don't seem to film up, we don't have to shake them down, no polarization, throws a bit better in the LCD areas, better temp tolerance (although that depends on your brightener....oh yes, you will probably have to switch brighteners...but mine was just a slide in conversion), all around better in my experience.

I'd give it a try if you have the luxury.

Trent Kaufman electroplater - Galva, Illinois

WHAT ABOUT AMMONIUM IONS INTO EFFLUENT STREAM.

Ajay Raina Punjab, India

Thanks both of you for the answers.

Indeed I am aware that potassium/ammonium chloride has operating benefits however waste water treatment gets the negative side. That is why I am wondering if the operating benefits overweigh the extra costs in the water treatment.

Thanks a lot. Gracias!

Guillermo Castorena
Jobshop plating - San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico

Raina has a good point and it was a concern. We monitored it closely. It did have a slight negative effect on precipitation. We added an aluminum sulfate mixture to our primary treatment tank and that seemed to handle the problem.

So far, so good.

Trent Kaufman electroplater - Galva, Illinois

Thanks a lot for the answers and the advice, guys!

That helped me a lot.

Gracias!

Guillermo Castorena
Jobshop plating - San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico