Gold Plating Services’ Bright Acid Copper Plating Solution deposits a brilliant ductile copper with excellent leveling. This copper can be applied as an undercoat for nickel. As with any other acid copper solution, it may be necessary to apply a preliminary strike coating on steel, aluminum, and zinc substrates. Cyanide copper solutions are often used, although an alkaline nickel strike or non-cyanide alkaline copper can also be used on steel or aluminum parts. Plastics and other non-conducting material must be coated with a continuous conducting metallic film prior to plating with acid copper.

Make sure the work is connected to the common lead and the power is on and set to the lowest position on the power supply before immersion into the copper solution. For small tanks the maximum voltage will be 1 – 2 volts DC.

Operating Conditions

Range

Temperature                                                                    70° to 100° F

Anode to Cathode Ratio                                                  2:1 or higher

Tank Voltage                                                                    1 - 3 VDC

Filtration                                                                          Continuous

Current Density                                                               30 – 50 A/sq. ft

Anode                                                                              Copper (Anode Should Be Bagged in Polypropylene bag)

Agitation                                                                          Vigorous air agitation*

Copper sulfate                                                         28oz per gallon optimum
Sulfuric acid                                                             120mL/gallon
Chloride Ions                                                            50ppm
Brightener                                                                1% v/v

*Vigorous air agitation is recommended for the operation of this bath. Low pressure filtered air blower is recommended to keep the solution in motion and more importantly to provide oxygen that will dissolve cuprous ions at the surface of the anodes*. Mechanical agitation may also be used in addition to air agitation.

*Many hobbyists and small tank users find an aquarium pump works well for this. Install the solution end of the air tubing near the lower end of the copper anode to insure that free oxygen is being applied to the anode.