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Q&As since 1989


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Electroless plating for baby shoes

I am from Ireland and have a baby shoe bronzing business. I would be grateful if you could give me some information on electroless plating.

Daniel Fitzpatrick
- Belfast, N.Ireland
2001

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Mr. Fitzpatrick,

Bronze, I believe is an alloy of copper and tin. There exists technology for electroless copper, but not electroless tin or copper/tin solutions. Besides, electroless deposition processes are relatively slow and time consuming for thick deposits.

Mary Ross
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2001

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Seeing the line you are the shoes are most likely lacquered then plated. The electroless plating is used as the lacquer can be 'seeded' so that when the shoes are put into the electroless tank they plate with out any electricity being used and they are covered all over inside and out. The electroless is used to provide a base to which the bronze can be plated on top by normal electroplating.

Martin Trigg-Hogarth
surface treatment shop - Stroud, Glos, England
2001