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Trouble with Iridite 14-2 only on 2024

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Q. Hello,
We have recently been having trouble with our Iridite 14-2 tank. Long story short, our Iridite bath was not coating properly. After some troubleshooting, we managed to get customer parts (mostly 6061 and 7075) and 6061 panels to come out as expected, but 2024 panels are coming out very dark and with a powdery coating. I haven't been able to run a 2024 panel without this powdery coating, despite lowering temperature, increasing pH, and lowering immersion times.

Our 6061 panels look great with immersion times ranging from 1 minute to 5 minutes. 2024, on the other hand, looks dark and powdery after only 1 minute immersion time. Most of the panel looks to have a light coating, but the edges are very dark and powdery. Increasing the immersion time provides a better coating on most of the panel, but the edges remain powdery (powdery coating does not seem to worsen significantly with this increased immersion time.

61626-1

Does anyone have any idea why we are getting such different results with different alloys? I know there is some variation in coating between alloys, but these are drastically different results. We've also tried 2024 panels from different batches, same problems.

If anyone has any ideas or advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Zander Naes
- Denver Colorado
December 28, 2023

? Does the prep cycle you use for the 2024 remove excess copper from the surface of the substrate?

F DiGiovanni
- Worcester, Massachusetts
January 31, 2024

A. Zander,
As DiGiovanni mentioned, your prep might be a contributing factor. To rule out, mechanically clean (wet scotchbrite and rinse) a panel and Iridite alongside with a panel normally prepped. Do you get the same results?

In a past life, we used Iridite 14 and had to operate at the high end of the pH range, if not a little higher. Still passed periodic tests.

If you'e alkaline etching the panels, don't.

Willie Alexander
- Green Mountain Falls, Colorado
February 17, 2024

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