Rhodium Plate and Blisters
Question: Our shop does rhodium plating and recently we have run into a problem when plating rhodium over small flat washer-like copper disks.
Question:
Our shop does rhodium plating and recently we have run into a problem when plating rhodium over small flat washer-like copper disks. The parts are first cleaned and then gold-flashed with 8–10 microinches of gold. The rhodium is than applied over the gold flash. We apply 25–35 microinches of rhodium. The parts blister around the edges and many are streaked. What are we doing wrong? F. T.
Answer:
The streaks are probably the best clue to what is wrong here. I suspect that you do not have a heavy enough gold layer on the parts. I would increase the thickness of the gold flash. An alternative is to replace the gold flash with a heavier nickel strike.
Related Content
-
How to Maximize Nickel Plating Performance
The advantages of boric acid-free nickel plating include allowing manufacturers who utilize nickel plating to keep up the ever-changing regulatory policies and support sustainability efforts.
-
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.
-
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.
