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Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Electroplating lead onto aluminum?

I need thin lead films to use with x-ray film. (When x-ray photons interact with the lead film, electrons are released and the effect is to intensify the x-ray image.) The thinnest lead films available from the manufacturers are 1 mil (~25 microns). I need lead films ranging from 5 to 20 microns. Can I electroplate lead onto an aluminum plate or foil?

Scott Wendt
education/research - Ames, Iowa
2003

Yes, Scott, lead is an electroplateable material and it is possible to plate onto aluminum. However, there will be additional metals present which hopefully does not interfere with your plans. The aluminum must first be zincated and then either cyanide copper plated or alkaline electroless nickel struck before the lead plating.

Contact one of the plating process suppliers for the materials and info on the process cycle, probably based on lead fluoborate or lead methane sulfonic acid. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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