Summary for plated anode basket Discussion
The plated anode basket question asks why the bottom of a nickel anode basket would become coated during plating. The original poster suspected a bad connection to the anode bar, but the reply suggests a different cause depending on what the deposit looks like. If the basket is plated with nickel metal, the likely problem is parts or debris lying in the bottom of the tank and shorting the basket to the cathode during plating. If the buildup is a green powdery growth instead, the advice is that either the chloride level is too high or the anode area is too small compared with the cathode area. The answer points to checking tank cleanliness, electrical contact, and bath balance before assuming the basket connection is the only issue.
The bottom parts of the nickel (anode) basket
⇦ huh? got plated. We suspected bad connection (to the anode bar) but I think it is more than that. Please advise.
Ming Cheung
– Canada
2001
A. If it is plated with Nickel Metal, then you probably have parts lying in the bottom of your tank shorting the basket to the cathode during plating.
If it is a green powder like growth, then either your chloride is too high or your anode area is too low vis a vis your cathode area.
Khozem Vahaanwala
Saify Ind
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
I think you are correct! Here’s how it can happen. If you have an empty or low anode level in a basket it will become bi-polar because it is in the field of other anodes in the tank. Then the empty basket will actually deplate under certain conditions on one side and will plate on the other side. If you are using high current make sure that you only have one set of anodes directly facing the work. Say a box or circle around a part. If there is any other baskets connected to the circuit but outside the box then the phenomena could occur also even if the baskets are full and connected.
Good Luck
Russell Richter
– Danbury, Connecticut, USA