The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Immersion silver over copper bus bars

I noticed recently an increase of customers request for silver "dipping" on copper bus bars as an alternative to silver flash plating (low thickness). We usually avoid depositing silver by immersion on copper as the adhesion is poor and therefore the use of a strike is recommended. In that case, why is silver dipping used on bus bars? What is the minimum thickness of such a deposit and what would be the expected shelf life of the product? Can the immersion in that case be done in a regular plating bath or do we need a special process as used in the circuit board industry for soldering?

Thank you for your help! Jack Zorayan
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2003

---

Technic Inc. has for many years supplied non-cyanide silver plating chemistry to large companies supplying bus bars both in copper & aluminum. Most customer were manufacturing these bar for use in Atomic reactors. As these plants were moved to different locations as jobs were complete our World wide plants took over the service and local supply. We do have a location in Canada. Louis Hirbour
- Anaheim, California, USA
2003