Copper plating problem: Strong fix for tube-end burning

Summary for copper plating problem Discussion

Copper plating problem on steel tubes: Ford Duggins asked why nine 72-inch welded steel tubes were blistering and burning at the ends during copper plating, and whether voltage or current settings might help. George Shahin of Atotech replied that the issue is most likely excessive current density at the tube ends, not a simple voltage tweak. He suggested the plater may need shorter anodes or shields to reduce the current concentration on the ends of the tubes. Shahin also noted that this is a basic plating control issue that most platers should recognize, implying the shop should already know how to correct it. The thread is brief and one-sided, but the practical advice is to control current distribution with anode geometry or shielding rather than trying to solve the defect by changing power settings alone.