Summary for titanium anode basket activation Discussion
Titanium anode basket activation is discussed in the context of SnPb plating and pure tin matte finish on Meco EDF+EPL 2400 strip-to-strip machines. Michael asks how titanium baskets become passivated, whether this is like anode ball passivation, how to activate them, and what effect it would have on the bath and finish. The reply says this is probably not a real problem: the basket can develop a thin titanium oxide film because it is positively charged, but that film should not stop it from carrying current to the anodes inside. The responder notes that some baskets are supplied with extra current-carrying strips of another metal, and says they have never personally heard of activating passivated titanium anode baskets, though an oxide film could be stripped off if needed. They also suggest the question may be too theoretical and ask what actual plating problem is being observed and how tin and lead are being fed into the solution.
Q. We are currently using SnPb plating and Pure tin matte finish chemistry and our machines are Meco EDF+EPL 2400’s strip to strip. Can you please explain to us how the titanium basket
⇦ huh? become passivated? Is this also similar to the passivation of anode balls? How do you activate it if it is passivated? What will be its impact on the plating solution and its implication on the finish product?
Thanks!
Michael T [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
semiconductor – Laguna
2005
I don’t think that this is a problem, Michael. The anode basket does become ‘passivated’ with a thin coating of titanium oxides due to its having a positive charge on it, but this should not interfere with it carrying the current to the anodes that are in it (although I have heard of such baskets being provided with additional current carrying strips of another metal. I’ve personally never heard of activating passivated titanium anode baskets, although it is possible to strip off any oxide film.
Your question seems abstract to me, asking how something would happen & why it would happen, if it were to happen, and what problems it might cause if it were to happen :-)
I’d rather hear it from the opposite direction: i.e., what problems you are actually having that are making you suspect this issue of passivated anode baskets? How are you feeding the tin and lead into the solution — with a mix of tin and lead anode balls? Thanks.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
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