What exactly is the licorice in cadmium plating brightener

A. Hi, Tom: Licorice in principle contains glycyrrhizin, saponin, asparagine, sugars, resin, bitter principles, a volatile oil, and other minor compounds. Glycyrrhizin is the main constituent of licorice, a natural sweetener, which is more than 50 times sweeter than cane sugar. So-called licorice you mentioned in cadmium plating is most likely to be a commercial glycyrrhizin, the ammoniated form of glycyrrhizin acid. Hope this answered your question. Regards, Ling

A. Hi Tom, In the past I have always used the liquorice candy, but it varies so much from country to country I am loathe to say that's it. For example here in Australia it is semi-sweet, but in the Netherlands is made with salt! And I have never eaten it in the USA, so I don't know what to say. But here in Australia I have used the locally available Liquorice Balls ! Regards

A. Licorice is an old standby for use as a grain refiner in Fluoborate Cadmium plating solutions. I don't remember using it in cyanide cadmium baths; we used Postum (the breakfast drink) in that bath. ONE WORD OF CAUTION: PLEASE NOTE. VERY IMPORTANT. DO NOT USE ANY POTENTIAL FOODSTUFFS IN ANY MANNER WHEREBY IT COULD BE ACCIDENTALLY USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AFTER USE IN PLATING. This is just a common sense warning so that the possibility of ingestion of plating chemicals cannot and will not occur. Where to buy licorice? Any health food store will have licorice extract. If they do not, there are stores that sell herbs that will have them. The phone book will serve as the best guide there. If you need something in the Mid Atlantic area, I may be of help.

A. Hi, Hossani.

Although the brighteners in proprietary cadmium baths would be trade secrets, we appended your inquiry to a thread which talks about licorice and postum as cadmium brighteners. Good luck.

Regards,