Soft Copper Deposits

Question:

We require a soft copper deposit on com-ponents that are then pulled through a sizing die. What type of plating bath do you recommend to give a soft copper deposit?

Answer:

The hardness of electrodeposited copper can be in the range of 50-350 HV (Vickers hardness). Typically a copper plating bath without any additives will give a softer deposit. The table below shows some typical hardness values for electrodeposited copper.

Additional data on can be found in The Properties of Electrodeposited Metals and Alloys, 2nd edition, William H. Safranak, American Electroplaters & Surface Finishers Society. Other factors such as plating bath temperature, current density and concentration will also influence the hardness of the deposit.