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Formulation of copper strike/plating bath for stop off of nitriding

I was asked to find a formulation for a copper bath, mostly for use to stop off parts for nitriding, that could function as both a strike and a normal plating bath. It's also supposed to have no proprietary ingredients.
Thanks

John Roebuck
Lab Technician - Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
October 31, 2008

Obviously your substrates are ferrous since you want to nitride them, so, you will have trouble meeting the request. More so if plating is not the line of business of your company. A diluted low efficiency cyanide copper bath known as strike is the safest to avoid immersion (non-adherent) deposits buy it cannot plate heavy. Other baths that can would require the strike. Finally, any chemistry that you choose will lead to handling hazardous substances, environmental and occupational regulations and possible liabilities.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
November 8, 2008