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Dirty Anodes in our copper sulphate Bath

We are plating electroless nickel on titanium. The problem seems to be with our copper strike. The copper is not throwing into low current areas. We are running current densities around 35 ASF. The copper strike is a copper sulphate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] tank, consisting of 7 oz/gal copper sulphate, 7 oz/gal sodium hydroxide, and 24 oz/gal rochelle salt ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . The bath checks out OK chemically. The copper anodes in the tank look terrible. They are covered in a bluish-purple film that takes a ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] pad to remove. When the film is removed, it has the appearance of a ultra fine rust colored powder. The film builds up if we leave the anodes in the tank with no current.

Help! We are absolutely stumped!

Chris Mance
- Tinker AFB, OK
2001

I have never seen a copper sulphate bath with sodium hydroxide. Maybe look in your guide book at a sulfuric/sulphate make up?

Todd Huehn
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
2001

The alkaline copper bath is the one called for in our Technical Order. We've been using it for years without this problem. The bath works great, just not since last week.

Chris Mance
- Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
2001

Hi Chris.

I think the anodes are polarised, clean them up or try a new one. Maybe you have use to high current density.

Regards

Anders Sundman
4th Generation Surface Engineering
Consultant - Arvika,
Sweden
2001

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March 2, 2011

This is a follow-up to the unresolved issue in letter 8308.

We must use a non-cyanide rochelle copper strike. Copper (I) oxide powder builds up on the anodes and outside the anode bags and sloughs off to the bottom of the tank, gradually reducing tank depth. We never remove our anodes from the plating tank - the copper in solution is apparently reacting with the oxygen from the electrolysis of water.

Is this preventable or reversible? Will adjusting anode surface area reduce this phenomenon?

Adding cyanide is not an option.

Art Campbell
Process Tech Support - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA