Decorative Gold Substitute
Question: Can you recommend a non-gold containing alloy that can be plated as a gold substitute?
Question:
Can you recommend a non-gold containing alloy that can be plated as a gold substitute? Obviously, it should have the appearance of gold and be suitable as an undercoat for a gold layer. The application is decorative. S.C.
Answer:
This seems to be the month for questions regarding bronze plating baths! As it turns out, there is a bronze plating bath that will give you a gold-like color and is suitable as an undercoat for gold. The formulation is as follows:
| Component | Concentration |
| Sodium cyanide | 8-9 oz/gal |
| Copper cyanide | 4 oz/gal |
| Sodium stannate | 1.5 oz/gal |
| Sodium hydroxide | 1.5 oz/gal |
| Rochelle salts | 6.0-6.5 oz/gal |
The bath should contain between 9-12% tin and should be operated at 150-160F. Copper anodes are used, and varying the amount of copper and tin in the plating bath controls the color.
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