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Q&As since 1989


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RHODIUM PLATING

Dear Sir, I am a gold bangles manufacturer.These days, gold surface is being plated by some process called 'RHODIUM PLATING'.This process gives it pink, white or black colour. Please, can you guide me regarding the process i.e what are the plating chemicls,how are they mixed and what are the equipmnts involved. Sir, My business is being seriously effected because of the lack of this knowledge. KINDLY HELP ME.THANKS

Gurmeet Singh
- Amritsar.Punjab.INDIA
1999

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Rhodium is an element. For the last few decades, rhodium has been significantly more expensive than gold, therefore rhodium plating must be very thin to be affordable.

Rhodium plating is a bright white color, more or less in between silver and chrome. Unlike silver, it does not tarnish, but retains its brilliant finish. It is also a very hard and therefore wear-resistant finish.

The chemicals used are proprietary , and you would need to talk to a supplier of same. The equipment required is more or less the same as for any other electroplating process, but if you are not familiar with electroplating, it can't be covered in an on-line letter like this. Rather, you need to read books and journals, and consider hiring a consultant, or signing up for a training course. Best of luck, and we'd love to have you ask specific questions.

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

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dear sirs,

we are a manufaturer of imitation jewellery. We use rhodium plating with our goods but somedays recently, our goods have got some black trace on its surface. Could you please let me know some reason. Thank you very much.

dangvietha
- hanoi-vietnam
2000