The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

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Copper strike activation

Is there any way of activation a copper strike layer?

Angie Molnar
- Canada
 

It depends on how thin the strike layer is, and what has happened to it after it was removed from the strike. If the strike is 1 or 2 tenths of a mil, you may have a shot.

You can't do too much to it, except low alkalinity cleaner (direct current), and a few percent sulfuric acid (few seconds).

Better to put the following plate onto the strike before trying to store it.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania

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Angie:

Strikes are normally too thin and will be severely damaged or even destroyed when activated in the normal way (that is reverse and forward). Depending on your substrate you may try in diluted HCL (forward only).

Good luck.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico