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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Silver plated directly over steel

I am looking for a process to silver plate low carbon steel wire without any substrate. Another metal over the steel will interfere with the use of this product. Is there a way to activate the steel to plate silver directly over it?

David Murphy
- Charlotte, North Carolina
2003

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First get all the chlorides out of your water. Then run the wire thru 5 %/vol 66 Be Electronic Grade Sulfuric Acid, then make the wire cathodic in a solution of 6 oz/gal Potassium Cyanide in deI or distilled water, then without rinsing go straight into a weak silver strike, continue without rinsing into the heavy silver build-up. Be aware that most commercial silver brighteners are antimony or selenium and this interferes with RF, then if RF (Radio Frequency) is a consideration use a silver brightener that is carbon disulfide.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

2003