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Using Zincating Solutions to Provide Thick Films of Zinc on Aluminum

My goal is to obtain a thick (5-10 um) layer of Zinc on a 1 µm thick layer of aluminum.1. Is this possible by a simple zincating bath? The 1 µm aluminum layer is "patterned" on a SiO2 surface.2. Will the zincating solution deposit zinc only on the aluminum and not on the exposed regions of SiO2.

Kristin Lynch
semiconductors - Ithaca, New York
2005

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Hi, Kristin. zincating of aluminum is an "immersion plating process", similar to copper sulphate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] on steel. As soon as there is no exposed aluminum, the zinc deposition stops. That also means that the zinc will not deposit on SiO2.It might, however, be feasible to apply electricity after the initial deposit, to do some actual zinc electroplating onto the surface. It is certainly possible to zinc plate aluminum. Good luck.Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 30, 2009