Summary for zinc plating temperature dependance Discussion
zinc plating temperature dependance is real, but the effect depends on the bath chemistry and operating conditions. John Murray asked whether plating at 40 °F would take about the same time as plating at 140 °F if everything else stayed constant. The reply says no: plating will generally proceed faster at 140 °F because ions are more mobile and the barrier layer is thinner. However, the answerer stresses that the practical outcome depends on the specific zinc system being used—cyanide, alkaline non-cyanide, acid chloride, ammonia chloride, or zinc sulphate—because each has different temperature limits and additive stability. In particular, there is no point in running a temperature that would destroy organic additives, and the safe operating range depends on the formulation. The key takeaway is that temperature matters, but the correct plating temperature must be chosen for the specific process chemistry.
Q. Is zinc plating temperature dependent? I am wondering if I will have a performance difference. For example, if I plate at 40 °F (keeping everything else constant) will it take about the same amount of time as if I plate at +140 °F?
John Murray
– Palo Alto, California, USA
2003
A. John, please tell us the real-world situation that motivates your questions because the answer “depends”. Yes, you will plate quicker at 140 than at 40 because the ions are more mobile and the barrier layer is thinner, but “it depends” on whether you are doing cyanide, alkaline non-cyanide, acid chloride, ammonia chloride, zinc sulphate, etc., because, for one thing, there is no point in trying to plate at a temperature which will destroy your organic additives, and that temperature “depends” on which system you are using 🙂
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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