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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Pre-plate cleaning of soldered parts

 

Hi,

I am having problems finding an efficient way of cleaning silver soldered parts before plating. The current process used gives smut on the part. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Amy Stewart
- Dayton, Ohio, USA

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What is your present process?

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
 

The basic cleaning process is used for these silver soldered parts(soak, electro, acid dip). Do you have an alternate method that would be better for these parts?

Amy Stewart
- Dayton, Ohio, USA

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Hi Amy,

We will need concentration, temperature, current density. Is the smut on the solder joint as well as the rest of the part? What is the alloy(s) of the part. Is the part hollow, cast, sheet metal, etc. Barrel or rack plated. What is the plating solution used. Are you getting poor adhesion as a result of the smut.

Photos of the part or defect would be good.

All these things will affect the formation of smut. It may be that soak, electro and acid dip may be fine, but the refinement will make the difference.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania