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Copper plating isn't sticking onto SS foil

2007

My goal is to put a .35" diameter circle of copper, about 0.005" thick, on a 0.0015" thick x 1" wide SS foil strip. (300 series SS feeler gauge from Eastern Industries: www.easterngage.com/stock-feeler-gages.asp)

My purpose is to conduct some heat transfer experiments, including lateral transfer rates.

My experience is science fair electro-plating of Cu on carbon steel, using copper sulphate, and Ni on carbon steel, using nickel ammonium sulphate [affil link to product info on Amazon]. My "prep" consisted of simmering the steel briefly in vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon]. The plating looked really good.

I tried Cu on SS last weekend, got good deposition, but it FELL off. I only cleaned with acetone on one trial, but also used emery cloth to roughen the surface on the other.

I have gathered--from a metal roofing website: home.comcast.net/~easyroofsales/copper_plated.htm--that I might have better luck if I 'prime' the surface with a bit of nickel, then plate copper over that.

My equipment includes a lab-grade power supply, so I can control current density with ease.

I hope someone finds this intriguing!

David W Pennington
hobbyist plater, but professional labrat, otherwise - Fox Lake, Illinois, USA

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Indeed, stainless steel must be nickel plated first -- but not just any nickel plating, it needs a Wood's Nickel Strike (high chloride, acidic, low nickel concentration). Info can be found by searching this site or in the Metal Finishing Guidebook.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007