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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Green spots in silver plating

Hello.

I'm working in electroplating processes, specifically with silver plating. We have a big problem with green spots coming out from pieces after the silver plating. We use silver cyanide baths and I think maybe humidity is the problem but we use hot water and dryers. The pieces are made of copper. If anybody has an idea of what's going on, please let me know. Thanks.

M. Castaneda
Student - San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004

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This doesn't sound as much like a student question as an industrial plating shop problem, M. Perhaps you are a co-op student working in a factory? That's fine, it's just that you need to post your real-world situation, not an abstract question that leads us to think you are in a student lab, if we are to be able to help you. For example, if I were to suggest a post-dip in product 'X' as the way to avoid this green discoloration, would you tell me I wasted my time because you can't implement a cycle change in this factory?

Please give us some details of the situation. Thanks.

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