No registration or passwords; no pop-up ads -- just aloha, fun, & answers.
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate earns from qualifying purchases).
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Advertise
 
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
pub  Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989



-----

Bright Acid Copper adhesion issues





January 13, 2010

We are an electroplating job shop in MN. We have been experiencing poor adhesion on parts coming out of our Acid Copper bath. There is no blistering and the nickel going in (from 3 different nickel baths) all looks good and has great adhesion.

The racked copper looks OK immediately after coming out of the bath, but after gently dumping the parts into a box, it scrapes off. We have not changed amperage or chemistry recently but changed anodes about 6 months ago. We have been experiencing this issue for around 1 month, and it is progressively getting worse.

Do you think this is anode or chemistry related?

Paul Magnan
Plating Shop Manager - Isle, MN, USA



First of three simultaneous responses -- January 15, 2010

Hello,

are you really sure about the good cleanliness of the parts prior getting plated? What about your additives, how they get added?

Suggestion:

1) Review Pre-treatment
2) Check your chemical composition in your bath and make an hull cell at your lab of your actual copper and of an "master sample"
3) Make active carbon treatment and after a dummy plating

Best regards,

Dominik Michalek
- Sydney, Australia



Second of three simultaneous responses --

Acid copper, when it looks good is very soft and stress free. The only reason it can scrape off a nickel plated surface as you describe is an absolute lack of adhesion. First, make sure the nickel underplate is not coming off too. If not, it must be a passivation and/or cleanliness issue. Make sure the parts enter the copper wet and live. Check for good contact with the busbar and check your rinse tanks, specially oil floating films.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
January 16, 2010



Third of three simultaneous responses -- January 18, 2010

Hi,

It seems that the bath is contaminated by organics and dyes, I would suggest it have a batch carbon treatment, or check on the activation dip after the copper plating, may be add some hydrogen peroxide (small qty) in the acid activation bath.

Next check the content of copper metal.
Hope it helps

praveen kumar
Praveen Kumar
plating process supplier
Mumbai, India




March 2, 2010

Hello Paul,

When I saw poor adhesion concerning acid copper, I had a bad electrical contact onto the cathodic bar or/and the hook. So, I suggest you to clean cathodic bar/contact and check electric circuit.

You can have an organic pollution due to nickel brighteners overdose, you can check this option if you have problem to run chrome after this nickel plating.

Hope it can help you,

Nicolas Duthil
- Bordeaux, FRANCE


It is very common this problem, which I can recommend is to use phosphor copper anode and verify that this in 80 ppm chloride ion and thus ensure good ductility and of course it is important to clean and rinse cycle

Oscar Villalobos
- Guadalajara, Mexico
March 2, 2010




(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

 
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g, Train'g
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2024 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"