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Bright Aluminum or Silver plating

I would like any information on Aluminum plating, Silver plating. I would like to plate metals and possibly plastics without the hazards of chrome plating. Can I simply electroplate with Aluminum anodes?. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mark Robidoux
- Malvern, Pennsylvania
1999

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Nice sentiment, Mark. But practical silver plating involves cyanide, and aluminum electroplating is a near impossibility, with only one shop in America that does it. Then again, proper plating on plastics usually involves a chromic acid etch. Don't even think about buying any chemicals -- and becoming responsible for them forever, no matter how much you pay for disposal -- until you have either taken a plating course or hired a consultant.

There are substitutes and alternatives to many things, but almost nothing has the shine of nickel-chrome plating, let alone the hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
(Ted is available for instant or longterm help)

1999

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You can try vacuum ion plating. Both aluminum and silver are deposited on a wide variety of substrates this way -- including television screens. The process is entirely safe, no chemicals used at all.

Jim Treglio - scwineryreview.com
PVD Consultant & Wine Lover
San Diego, California
1999

Aluminum and silver are often deposited by thermal evaporation in a vacuum chamber. This process is fast, simple, and inexpensive. If adhesion is a problem, you might try sputtering, since many systems can sputter etch the substrate; this cleans and activates the surface.

Joe Ketterl
sound systems - Issaquah, Washington
1999

I too am interested in the silver plating of different surfaces. My interest is not to silver plate things but to investigate the procedure for a school CAT (assignment) your help would be greatly appreciated. If you don't have the information I need can you please refer me to someone who can help me out. Marijana

Marijana Panic
- Melbourne VIC, Australia
1999

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You almost can't go wrong with any of the books on our "must-have" booklist, but the Garden State Branch A.E.S.F. "Basic Practical Electroplating" listed there is especially good.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
(Ted is available for instant or longterm help)

1999

Many kinds of metals as well as some plastics can be coated with IVD Aluminum with no problems.

Jerry Wahlin
plating shop - Compton, California
1999

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