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Carbonates in non-cyanide plating solutions

Does anyone know if carbonates will even form in non-cyanide neutral plating solutions?

Romina Garcia
Engineer - Winnipeg, MB, Canada
September 17, 2010

I will not answer directly but to say that if you leave an open container of sodium hydroxide, or most any other sodium compound, it will take CO2 from the air and form sodium carbonate. This accelerates with heat. And we all have experienced carbonates increasing in a non-cyanide alkaline zinc plating solution with time and temperature.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

First of two simultaneous responses -- September 23, 2010

Second of two simultaneous responses -- September 23, 2010

Hi Romina,

It's possible if the neutral plating solution is slightly alkaline with air agitation:

E.g. 2NaOH(aq.) + CO2(g) ==> Na2CO3(aq.) + H2O

Regards,
David

David Shiu
- Singapore

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