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Preparation of Hard Chrome plating vat

2004

We are making up a brand new hard chrome plating vat and I seem to remember we should leach the vat prior to filling with the plating solution. I assume some sort of acid solution is appropriate. Our vat is PVC - is this necessary? What solution should we use?

Regards

Nick

Nick Clark
Claverham - Bristol, Avon, England

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Yes, it's necessary. Theoretically, you use the same acid that you will plate with because what you are trying to do is leach out anything that is soluble in that acid so that it doesn't leach into your plating solution. But sulfuric acid (say 10 percent) is widely used for leaching of linings and that's probably what I would use, rather than getting involved with chromic acid, unless it is a proprietary chrome plating solution that comes with a tech data sheet that says otherwise.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

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Nonsense. If PVC lined, all that is necessary is a good scrub with detergent and water, and a thorough rinse. You'll be fine.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2004