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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
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Iron-Chrome Co-Deposition
I need to plate iron with an iron-chrome alloy (10-15% Cr). Does anyone have an idea if it is possible and how can I do that?
Thanks,
Mario Tagliazucchistudent - Buenos Aires, Argentina
2004
2004
ASM Handbook volume 5, Surface Engineering, p. 270-273 (1994), covers Cr alloy plating. One Cr-Fe formula: 250 g/L CrO3, 72.2 g/L CrCl3, 62.6 g/L FeCl2, 1 mL/L H2SO4, 20 mL/L CH3OH. The methanol reduces a portion of the Cr+6 to Cr+3. Use at 40 °C (105 F), current density 25 A/dm2 (250 A/ft2), with lead anodes. The reference (US Patent 4,615,773) mentions an optimum pH range 0.5-2.0 and Cr+6:Cr+3 ratio > 2:1, but not the plated composition. Subsequently, low-Cr+6 solutions have been developed which can be varied to produce deposits from 10 to 90% Fe (Plating and Surface Finishing, p. 39, Nov. 1989 and US Patent 5,413,646 -- J. Dash and J. DeHaven, -----).
Modern Electroplating, 4th Edn. (2000) likely has information on newer trivalent Cr solutions (more stable than Cr+6 in presence of Fe+2), but I cannot really say, as my copy is out on loan.
Ken Vlach [deceased]- Goleta, California
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Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
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