Lou,
We are trying but not succeeding in plating the titanium, the plating metal doesn't adhere on the titanium.
We tried platinum, then we changed the plating bath to acid copper, because this is the bath that we have more experience.
Here are some of our several tries:
1) Degrease cathodically in a basic electrolytic bath 7,5V amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Acid pickle in a solution of nitric acid (400 g/L) and hydrofluoric acid (50g/L) amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Plating Bath - Platinum or Copper
2) Degrease cathodically in a basic electrolytic bath 7,5V amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Acid pickle in a solution of nitric acid (400 g/L) and hydrofluoric acid (50g/L) amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Boil in oxalic acid (100 g/L)
Deionized water rinse
Plating Bath - Platinum or Copper
3) Degrease cathodically in a basic electrolytic bath 7,5V amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Acid pickle in a solution of nitric acid (400 g/L) and hydrofluoric acid (50g/L) amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Boil in oxalic acid (100 g/L)
Deionized water rinse
Anodizing in amb temp oxalic acid (80 g/L) –
10 V and another try
32 V. Both of them at 20 mA/cm² - spaced 2 cm
Plating Bath - Platinum or Copper
4) Degrease cathodicaly in a basic electrolytic bath 7,5V amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Acid pickle in a solution of nitric acid (400 g/L) and hydrofluoric acid (50g/L) amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Boil in oxalic acid (100 g/L)
Deionized water rinse
Anodizing in amb temp oxalic acid (80 g/L) –
10 V and another try
32 V. Amps not limited – spaced 2 cm
Plating Bath - Platinum or Copper
5) Degrease cathodically in a basic electrolytic bath 7,5V amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Acid pickle in a solution of nitric acid (400 g/L) and hydrofluoric acid (50g/L) amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Etch in solution of sodium dichromate at 225-263 g/L and 4-5% v/v hydrofluoric acid for 15 min
Deionized water rinse
Plating Bath - Platinum or Copper
6) Degrease with ultrasonic cleaner and detergent
Deionized water rinse
Acid pickle in a solution of nitric acid (400 g/L) and hydrofluoric acid (50g/L) amb temp
Deionized water rinse
Plating Bath - Platinum or Copper
*acid copper bath = 1,2 V (~ 0,6 A and 0,1 A/cm²), anode with much greater surface area than titanium piece
Here are some photos of the #6 try, as you can see the titanium hook plates nicely, but it flakes off once twisted and the titanium piece doesn't plate at all. Before try number 6 I heated the piece with a torch until red hot, to eliminate possible titanium hydrides...
Titanium hook that hold the piece to be plated:
Titanium piece immediately after the copper plating:
Copper plating can be removed with a gentle touch:
Do you know how I can solve this problem!!?? Thank you for you help!
On the quotation of the Pt salts, do you have a minimum quantity? How much is for 10 g of Pt in the form of Pt(NH3)2(NO2)2? Thanks!