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Copper is depositing on steel without current imposed!

I'm a doctor and my topic is about electrodeposition of copper on metallic substrates. I have some problems, I prepared bath of acid copper bath but when I want to introduce my substrate into the bath it began spontaneous and rapid deposition of copper without current imposed. What is this phenomena?

Ilou Mohamed
- Eljadida, Morocco
2003

This is a problem called "immersion plating". You will not be able to successfully electroplate copper onto steel from an acid copper bath because of this problem. For a fuller understanding you can look up the Nernst Equation. But practically, you must deposit copper onto steel from a copper pyrophosphate or copper cyanide bath, or you must plate something else (like nickel or electroless nickel) onto the steel first.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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