Letter 1006

Non-cyanide Copper Plating

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Hi, Does anyone have any experience with using EPI 30/30 non-cyanide copper solution to plate small, white metal(tin-lead alloys and zinc(za)) castings in barrels or on racks.Thanks

Ken F

I think that alkaline non cyanide copper operates only on steel and not on zinc castings.

Sara Michaeli     chemical process supplier Israel

Ken, I'll have to disagree with the people who indiscriminately knock all non-cyanide copper processes. I have experience with the EPI's E-Brite 20/20, the predecessor of the 30/30 bath. It did all the things the manufacturers claimed and then some - I sucessfully electroformed with it. The bath operates at a pH of (if memory serves) around 9.5, has great adhesion to steel, nickel, etc. you can plate out of it directly onto aluminum (naturally, no adhesion unless you zincate, but who cares when all you want is to electroform). I know people who use the 30/30 bath and are quite happy with it.

Hope this helps.

Wishing you luck, PlaterB

"PlaterB" Berl Stein NiCoForm, Inc. Rochester, NY

Just out of curiosity, are you using an Acid Cu bath or are you using Cu Pyrophosphate? I know Cu Pyro has excellent throwing power but, I've only used it on WRe helicies. I'm not sure about SnPb or Zn.

I will do some research and see what I can come up with.

Laura Fatke

Has anybody got information about alkali non-cyanide electroplating of zinc onto steel? We have tried the process unsuccessfully so far. Cleaning seems to be a critical factor in the process as the operational window for plating is far less tolerant than the cyanide based process.

Paul Hickey
plating shop

If anyone has the time, I'm doing a report on the use of cyanide in gold mining. Can you send me as much info as you can? Thank you!!

Eileen Hamlin
The syndicate - Area 51, Nevada

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey