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47068
Remove thick copper plating from plastic
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For over 27 years our company has provided a bronzed keepsake for
parents nationwide. We call it bronzed but it is actually copper
plated and antiqued. The plated parts are actual castings of
baby/children's hands or feet. In the past a bad plating job meant we
grind the backside of the product and peel the copper off the plastic
base. As business grows so do rejects and the time required to peel
the bad parts can become excessive. It is not as simple as throwing
it away and starting over. Each part is unique because it was made
from a babies hand or foot impression.
Is their a chemical that I can drop the parts into that will eat away
the copper without damaging the plastic base. The plastic used,
monomer and polomer, is the same used in the dental industry.
Any help would be appreciated.
Randy Hill
Plating shop owner - Montgomery, AL
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I'd first try ferric chloride. Then I'd try sodium persulfate or
ammonium persulfate.
Kevin Dowhower
- Lompoc, CA, USA
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I would use 50% nitric acid, watch out for toxic fumes. Dont let
it get hot or you will ruin your master
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Of the two suggestions so far I would prefer the Ferric Chloride
approach. Use 50-70% by volume of 42 oBe FeCl3 soln
Much less risk of damaging the plastic

Geoff Whitelaw
- Port Melbourne, Vic., Australia


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