Brass electroplating

Electroplating. Aluminum can be electroplated by the electrolytic reduction of cryoHte, which is trisodium aluminum hexafluoride [13775-53-6] Na AlE, containing alumina. Brass (see COPPERALLOYS) can be electroplated from aqueous cyanide solutions which contain cyano complexes of zinc(II) and copper(I). The soft CN stabilizes the copper as copper(I) and the two cyano complexes have comparable potentials. Without CN the potentials of aqueous zinc(II) and copper(I), as weU as those of zinc(II) and copper(II), are over one volt apart thus only the copper plates out. Careful control of concentration and pH also enables brass to be deposited from solutions of citrate and tartrate. The noble metals are often plated from solutions in which coordination compounds help provide fine, even deposits (see Electroplating). 

In addition to the metals Hsted above, many alloys ate commercially electroplated brass, bronze, many gold alloys, lead—tin, nickel—iron, nickel—cobalt, nickel—phosphoms, tin—nickel, tin—zinc, ziac-nickel, ziac-cobalt, and ziac-iron. Electroplated alloys ia lesser use iaclude lead—iadium, nickel—manganese, nickel-tuagstea, palladium alloys, silver alloys, and zinc—manganese. Whereas tertiary and many other alloys can feasibly be electroplated, these have not found commercial appHcations. 

Electroplating. Typical wastes produced include spent process solutions containing copper, nickel, chromium, brass, bronze, zinc, tin, lead, cadmium, iron, aluminum, and compounds formed from these metals. 

Some common uses are in electrical wiring and components of electronic equipment, roofing, and pipes and plumbing and in the manufacturing of alloys such as brass, bronze, Monel metal, electroplating, jewelry, cooking utensils, insecticides, marine paints, cosmetics, and wood preservatives. 

The nse of complexation to allow codeposition of alloys is well known in electroplating. The best-known example is that of brass (Cu/Zn) plating, where cyanide, which is a stronger complex for Cu than it is for Zn, brings the deposition potentials of the two metals, originally far apart, to almost the same value. There is a direct connection between this effect and the equivalent one for CD. This arises from the fact that, for both CD and electrodeposition of alloys (we in-clnde mixed metal compounds in the term alloy), the effect of the complexant is to lower the concentration of free cations. For CD this affects the deposition throngh the solnbility product, while for electrodeposition it affects the deposition potential through the Nemst equation ... 

Metal Coatings. Tellurium chlorides, as well as tellurium dioxide in hydrochloric acid solution, impart permanent and attractive black antique finish to silverware, aluminum, and brass. Anodized aluminum is colored dark gold by tellurium electro deposition. A solution containing sodium tellurate and copper ions forms a black or blue-black coating on ferrous and nonferrous metals and alloys. Addition of sodium tellurite improves the corrosion resistance of electroplated nickel. Tellurium diethyldithiocarbamate is an additive in bright copper electroplating (see Electroplating). 

Electroplating is achieved by passing an electric current through a solution containing dissolved metal ions as well as the metal object to be plated. The metal object acts as a cathode in an electrochemical cell, attracting metal ions from the solution. Ferrous and nonferrous metal objects are typically electroplated with aluminum, brass, bronze, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel, tin, and zinc, as well as precious metals such as gold, platinum, and silver. Common electroplating bath solutions are listed in Table 7-1. 

Metal powder can also be coated onto the workpiece. The 3M Company has developed a cold welding technique in which the workpiece, the metal powder, water, glass shot and additives are tumbled together in a barrel. Coatings are limited to ductile metals such as Cd, An, Sn, Pb, In, Ag, Cu, brass, and tin/lead solder the method is generally suitable only for small parts, and it doesn t produce a fine surfaced, cosmetic coating. Costs are comparable to those for electroplating with afterbake (Kirk-Othmer 1981). 

Red brass - [CORROSION AND CORROSION CONTROL] (Vol 7) - [ELECTROPLATING] (Vol 9) -corrosion of [CORROSION AND CORROSION CONTROL] (Vol 7) -scrap [RECYCLING - METALS - NONFERROUS METALS] (Vol 20)... 

The alloy of zinc with copper is termed brass, pinchbeck, Muntz metal, and tombac. English brass usually contains 70 per cent, of copper and 30 of zinc. It is made by melting the copper and adding the molten zinc. The addition of nickel (Cu 52 per cent., Zn 23 per cent., Ni 13 per cent.) yields German silver, of which spoons, forks, and coins are made. Electroplate has usually a basis of this alloy, and is covered with silver by depositing it from its double cyanide with potassium. Zinc coated over... 

Other applications require an electroplated brass finish, which generally is superimposed over a thick copper and nickel system—thus ensuring good adhesion and resistance to corrosion. It always is necessary to apply over the brass a coating of lacquer to prevent tarnishing. 

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