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Reducing cost of platinized titanium electrodes by making them yourself

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I want to make the Pt/Ti anode by myself. Anyone can suggest the plating process for Platinum over Titanium.

Edmond Yeung
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Technic, Inc. or Sel-Rex, Inc. have proper chemistries, but surface prep is the key. Grit blasting or fluorides are usually required.
Good Luck,
Dave
SUNNYvale, CA

Dave Kinghorn      Chemical Engineer SUNNYvale, California

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July 31, 2009

Do you have a ball park figure on how much it would cost to produce platinized titanium electrodes at home instead of buying them commercially? For example, I found a quote for a 1.5 square inch electrode that was priced at $60 USD. This is expensive. I want to know what degree of cost savings i.e. percent wise, I could realize by making the electrode myself. I am thinking about making several electrodes so I hope that the cost savings might be substantial. I have the equipment for electrolysis already available.

Aaron Cowan
hobbyist - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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August 3, 2009

Hi, Aaron. My understanding is that the best anodes are clad not plated. But if you successfully plate platinum on titanium, let us know how thick you went, how long they last, and what you think they cost you. Thanks.

I won't say you can't do it, but I will say it's difficult. See ASM Metals Handbook, Vol. 5 for possible pretreatment cycles for plating titanium. Good luck.

Regards,

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