Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Hard water problem!

2000

in my process of electroplating(galvanizing) I got acid zinc process or chlorate process, but I'm using a hard water (850 ppm) so sometimes I got some problems but I don't know if it is for the kind of water I used, can any body tell me what's the best water for the chlorate process and what kind of problems could I have with the hard water and what improvement do I have if I use distilled water.

note:i use hard water in all the process so if you can tell me how effect it have in every stage of the process I will thank you!

thanks, I will appreciate all you help!

ROBERTO GONZAELZ
galvanizado gonzalez - escobedo, nuevo leon, mexico

I have been in metal finishing long enough to know from a theoretical and a practical point of view, WATER QUALITY IS IMPORTANT. Your water at 850 ppm is borderline for painting systems, depending on what quality of finish you are looking for. I recommend that you install reverse osmosis equipment to get the best quality water you can. there are other methods, but you will be better off with RO. Contact a supplier of RO equipment. One off hand is Medro Systems [McKinney, Texas].

Randal Rockwell, PE
Rockwell Engineering Solutions - Mishawaka, Indiana
2000