Nickel-Plated Anode Bars
Our chemical vendor has told us that it is a good idea to nickel plate the anode bars in our zinc chloride plating bath prior to commissioning the tank. Why?
Q: We have recently installed a chloride zinc plating bath. Our chemical vendor has told us that it is a good idea to nickel plate the anode bars prior to commissioning the tank. Why? M.B.
A: Typically, the anode bars in a plating bath are made of copper. Since the chloride zinc plating bath is fairly corrosive, it tends to attack the copper. One of the results of this attack is when the bars are cleaned, copper will end up in the plating bath and copper can be a serious contaminant in the bath.
One way to reduce this problem is to plate the anode bars with a material that is more resistant to the chloride zinc plating solution. Nickel is such a material and is recommended for plating the anode bars.
One other comment regarding anode and cathode bars: They should not be cleaned directly over the plating tanks if possible. If they must be cleaned in this manner place material under the bars to catch the debris from the bars prior to cleaning. A sheet of plastic will work fine and should catch most of the material removed from the bars.
Related Content
-
Trivalent Chrome Overview
As the finishing industry begins to move away from the use of hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium, what factors should finishers consider as they make new investments? Mark Schario, chief technology officer for Columbia Chemical offers a helpful overview of this complicated topic.
-
Advantages to Pumped Eductor Agitation
Not all agitation methods are created equally. Pumped agitation with eductor nozzles can improve process tanks and quickly show a reduction in operating costs while keeping staff safe, following environmental legislation and preventing pollution.
-
Products Finishing Reveals 2023 Qualifying Top Shops
Each year PF conducts its Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, offering shops a tool to better understand their overall performance in the industry. The program also recognizes shops that meet a set of criteria to qualify as Top Shops.
