Sending them out for replating wasnt practical so i set up my own zinc plating system. Zinc electroplating steps although the process may vary depending on the requirements substrate cost and the type of finish desired at a commercial level it usually involves the following major steps.
Zinc Cyanide Plating Process
Zinc plating solution formula. This generates zinc ions in the vinegar. So at 10 asf it will take about 34 minutes. Working from the electrochemical equivalents chart in the mfg it takes 143 asf for 60 minutes to deposit001 of zinc at 100 efficiency. For electroplating to occur the plating solution must contain metal ions of the metal you want to plate. Zinc nickel has received increasing commercial acceptance over the past 20 years. Zinc plating is done in a variety of aqueous solutions like alkaline cyanide alkaline non cyanide or acid chloride salt solutions.
Zinc nickel plating therefore has become the corrosion resistant solution for automotive components to protect against these environments. The zinc sulfate and zinc electrodes were purchased on ebay for less than 20. Vinegar is a weak acid and dissolves the zinc. Allow the zinc to remain in the vinegar for at least 15 minutes before beginning the electroplating. This section describes my experiments in creating that system. The reaction at the anode is that for each 2 electrons that your battery removes one atom of zinc goes into solution according to the reaction zn0 2e zn.
Mix together 300 grams of epsom salts 100 grams of zinc sulfate 200ml of white vinegar and about 13 bottle of corn syrup into 45 liters of tap water and stir with a paint stick until everything is well dissolved. Your efficiency should be 75 maybe a bit higher so 14375 19 asf for 60 minutes to deposit001 or 57 asf for 60 minutes to deposit 00003. The sugar is not part of the balanced formula for the chemical reaction. A recent price check on ebay found 2 pounds of zinc sulfate for 899 and 4 zinc anodes for 876 total cost with delivery while not particularly dangerous zinc sulfate plating solution and cleaning materials are irritants. After a half century of use they were in poor condition and required replating. Many of the parts removed from the triumph were originally zinc plated or galvanized.
Place the anodes into the solution. The resulting ph is about 3 as determined by litmus paper. Sand particles breach exposed surfaces causing erosion and surface cavities. Rather it blocks continued plating and crystal growth inducing the formation of new crystals.
Gallery of Zinc Plating Solution Formula
