Aloha, fun & authoritative answers -- no cost, no registration, no passwords, no popups
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
pub  Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989



-----

Bright Acid Copper Plating solution turned green





Q. Hello,

I have been using Bright Acid Copper Solution a long time; since last 3 months it was becoming more and more greenish almost like nickel solution. I was plating fine but on big parts (3 1/2 Sq Inch) I don't get bright and smooth finish.

Then I did carbon treatment over night and then I added Primary (Make Up) brightener about 3 ml/ltr, Sulfuric acid 10 ml/ltr and secondary brightener 0.3 ml/ltr.

After treatment solution was clear blue, problem is no shine and rough plating I need to use 800 grit sandpaper and polish manually, which takes time and won't get good finishing deep inside.

I use anode bags, Ti Baskets and phosphorized copper anodes with continuous filter.

I have to analyze to check all parameters. Before that if anybody has faced this kind of problem please advise.

Thank you

Dipen Pattni
Dipen Pattni
jeweler/goldsmith - Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
April 8, 2011


A. Hi, Dipen.

Bill Hemp advises us in letter 5001 that a dark green coloration is a result of organic contamination, which you have now removed. It sounds like your attempt at re-balancing the brighteners is not yet quite right. Do you have Hull Cell panels and, if so, is there any bright range?

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 11, 2011


A. You have very high chloride (HCl) in your bath. If put 1 g/l silver nitrate then put H2O2 about 2-3 g/l and heat the solution 50-60°; then do filtration.

Majed Janineh
Beith Lehem Israel
October 2, 2011


A. No Majed, green colour is not due to the high chloride.
It's main cause is only organic contamination (as suggested by Ted sir)
I had the same problem, and after giving carbon treatment, solution is again blue and working well.

Rupesh Yadav
- delhi, India
June 7, 2016



sidebar notes

Q. Reference is made to a "Hull Cell". What is a "Hull Cell"?

Bryan Moor
hobby - Sale UK
December 29, 2018


A. Hi Bryan. A "Hull Cell" is a specially designed trapezoidal miniature (267 ml) plating tank used to plate sample coupons. Its features allow us to learn a lot about the capability of the solution being tested, and its size is chosen to facilitate easily scaling up from test additions to proportionate corrective additions to the production plating tank. It's hard to full describe in a sentence or two, so please see thread 22320, "What is a Hull Cell Test, Why is it done, Where to Get a Hull Cell".

Regards,

pic of Ted Mooney
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 2018




(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"