Electrolyte source for plating

[Rob A.]

Where would I look for more of the electrolyte solution that came with my plating kit? I'd rather not send away for it if I can find a local source.

[Gerard F.]

I think they are all proprietory.

Rob,

I think each of the systems has their own chemistry secrets. I use the Caswell zinc/copy cad system and I have tried to find the chemical makeup for the electrolyte with no results. You just can't get it, except from them.

Any Chem E's here. What's the makeup of zinc plating electrolyte?

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Mark #28455]

Re: I think they are all proprietory.

Likely Zinc Sulfate - available at Advance Scientific and Chemical. They also sell the zinc metal for the electrodes. You can use the sulfate of many metals for electroplating - you can get copper, nickel, tin, chromium - you then need to use the correct metal annode. The sulfate will dissolve in water (but not really well) if you make a weak sulfuric acid solution it will likely work better. But anytime you try to do it by yourself (without buying a kit) you take risks that it may not work or you may be exposed to toxins (like with chromium) so beware!
Mark

[Peter L.]

Re: Electrolyte source for plating

Rob - I suspect if you want to be successful with these systems it's best to use their products. Finding the correct chemicals and then being able to buy them might be a challenge and plating solutions might well contain other chemicals like brighteners, surfactants, etc. So by the time you determine what's in it and what quantities, you will probably spend more in time and materials than what it would cost from the plating kit manufacturer. And you might end up having to buy larger quantities than you might ever use and would want around the house. Pete