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Using Zincating Solutions to Provide Thick Films of Zinc on Aluminum

My goal is to obtain a thick (5-10 um) layer of Zinc on a 1 µm thick layer of aluminum.1. Is this possible by a simple zincating bath? The 1 µm aluminum layer is "patterned" on a SiO2 surface.2. Will the zincating solution deposit zinc only on the aluminum and not on the exposed regions of SiO2.

Kristin Lynch
semiconductors - Ithaca, New York
2005

Hi, Kristin. zincating of aluminum is an "immersion plating process", similar to copper sulphate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] on steel. As soon as there is no exposed aluminum, the zinc deposition stops. That also means that the zinc will not deposit on SiO2.It might, however, be feasible to apply electricity after the initial deposit, to do some actual zinc electroplating onto the surface. It is certainly possible to zinc plate aluminum. Good luck.Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
August 30, 2009

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