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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Copper Plating Oxidized

2000

I'm a student involved in a CP Chem class.
We are now in our electrochemistry unit and my lab group and I chose to do an experiment on copper plating. We are trying to find the effects of voltage on the mass of copper plated. We are using a copper nitrate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] bath and a copper strip as an anode(+).

We are plating four different kinds of metals: zinc, steel, aluminum, and copper for ten minutes. However, in the plating process the surface of the different metals becomes badly oxidized. We've tried everything -- boiling the solution, adding sulfuric acid, trying to plate 00 steel wool ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ) and our teacher cannot explain what's happening, please, what can stop this? We are running out of time, Fast!

Marissa Madsen
- Mesa, Arizona
outda
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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I live in Mesa. Have your teacher call or e-mail me. I would be happy to give a short talk on the plating process, and may even be able to arrange a tour to a local plating facility.

Bill Vins
microwave & cable assemblies - Mesa (what a place-a), Arizona
2000

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I have sanded an iron profile and cleaned all the black cover. Now the surface is almost silver and I want to stain it (chemically or otherwise, but not to paint it) in order to give it a more natural rigid and rough look.

Thanks,

Yotam Kasam
HOBBYIST - Israel, Tel-Aviv
March 20, 2009