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Comparing commercial electroplating methods to students' lab method
Q. Hi all,
My year 10 students (14 - 15 years old) have to write an essay comparing electroplating on a commercial scale to the practical they did in the lab (basic set up, CuSo4 solution in a beaker, carbon rod anode, nail cathode).
As a group we have conducted some research on the internet but the level of detail in the articles found so far is proving difficult for them to sift through. I am going to provide a summary sheet and want to check my information before passing it on to them. As far as commercial methods go, is it just bath or brush or are there other commonly used methods? What is rack or wire?
Any clarification (and simplification!) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
teacher - Liverpool, England.
2007
A. If you can find a library that has The Canning Handbook [on eBay, Amazon, AbeBooks], that is perhaps the best volume on practical commercial electroplating because it has a good number of actual photographs of industrial installations. The parts that are commercially electroplated range from tiny surface mounted electronic components, thousands of which could fit into a small thimble, to bumpers for 18-wheelers, so it's hard to put a size on the installations. One of the principal differences between experimental and commercial electroplating is fixturing: plating racks or plating barrels are provided that speed up and simplify the work of handling many items at once.
But the single biggest difference is that the plating step per se is only a small part of the operation; there will be many cleaning, activation, and rinse tanks before the plating tank and several rinse tanks and possibly post treat tanks after the plating tank. Because moving the metal from the anode to the cathode is relatively simple, but getting it to adhere so tenaciously that a manufacturer can guarantee it against rigorous environmental exposures like freezing cold, and jet engine heat is difficult.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007
A. Margaret,
Why not consider contacting one of the local plating shops and having a field trip. I don't think the students will be allowed too near process tanks, but they should get a good idea of the set up plus the plating company will more than likely have things like the Canning Handbook and the Electroplating Engineering Handbook [on
AbeBooks or
eBay or
Amazon]
.
I would suggest you try someone like King & Fowler down near the Docks if you want a company that works at the Aerospace level, they have numerous processes and some wonderfully helpful staff.
If nothing else they may be able to lend you the types of books you require.
Aerospace - Yeovil, Somerset, UK
2007
A. Follow this link to the British Surface Treatment Suppliers Association where they have some downloadable brochures which should help to explain
www.bstsa.org.uk/tech/tech.htm
- Wales
2007
It's a good site giving the information we need .
Thank you sir
- India
December 1, 2009
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