hard drive platters and cells

[scheppy]

Ok, I know Im new here, but I've done a lot of reading on the forum about the low percentages of Pt in hard drive platters.....Im not looking to recover any metals from the platters, so thats a non issue....however, would using a platter as anode/cathode in a cell work due to the Pt content? Im wondering how long the coating would last before it ate through to the aluminum, ruining the solution? Please forgive my innocence, just thought this might make a nice solution to what to do with all those silver frizbees hanging around my shop..........and might also save money in the long run on copper and graphite........ :idea:

michael

 

[NobleMetalWorks]

The Pt in the plating makes up the minority of the metal used to plate hard drive platters.

The other metals may or may not be attacked by your electrolytic solution, it's hard to tell because some metals protect others in the right amounts, from being attached by acid.

I wouldn't even mess with it, just sell them as Al scrap!

Scott

 

[Geo]

Ok, I know Im new here, but I've done a lot of reading on the forum about the low percentages of Pt in hard drive platters.....Im not looking to recover any metals from the platters, so thats a non issue....however, would using a platter as anode/cathode in a cell work due to the Pt content? Im wondering how long the coating would last before it ate through to the aluminum, ruining the solution? Please forgive my innocence, just thought this might make a nice solution to what to do with all those silver frizbees hanging around my shop..........and might also save money in the long run on copper and graphite........ :idea:

michael

because of the base metal in a HD platter being highly reactive to most acids, in my opinion, it would make a terrible choice for any part of an electrolytic stripping or Electrowinning cell.

 

[scheppy]

Thanks for the answers, guys......just thought it might have been a way to put them to use other than the scrap pile....oh well; live, read, and learn!!!
:roll:

 

[superten67]

what exactly are the base metals?cause ive shattered endless ones of these by accident.....and apart from the platinum which we know of,if i didnt know better id say there were made of glass lol.
i know they're not but they're so brittle its untrue.
still love the forum guys.

 

[jimdoc]

what exactly are the base metals?cause ive shattered endless ones of these by accident.....and apart from the platinum which we know of,if i didnt know better id say there were made of glass lol.
i know they're not but they're so brittle its untrue.
still love the forum guys.

Some are made of glass, I think mainly from laptops.

Jim

 

[superten67]

ive got loads of these and was thinking about smashing em up in the coffee grinder and treating them....but now im thinking from whats been said its a waste of time?
anyone?

 

[jimdoc]

ive got loads of these and was thinking about smashing em up in the coffee grinder and treating them....but now im thinking from whats been said its a waste of time?
anyone?

Waste of time and chemicals.

Jim

 

[superten67]

yeah thats what i was thinking cheers.

 

[goldsilverpro]

HUGE waste of time, chemicals,...and money, I might add.

 

[Pantherlikher]

would it be worth the effort to melt platters and pour the AL into a mold for selling?.. Would all the other material settle out?. If there was a foundry already running with a melting kettle for scrap AL and already in use, it wouldn't take any more energy then already being used. Guessing everything else would settle as slag or on the bottom of the pot, you could process thousands of discs for the AL and end with something accumulated that might add up to being worth the effort then.
I'd guess I'd have to give it a look see if and when I get a foundry set up and running. 1 thing I'd like to run in this lifetime. Make a few swords and other neat things.
BS.

 

[tek4g63]

I could very well be way off, but I would think that the other metals would alloy with the aluminium not settle out. Try Googling " solubility of metals in molten aluminum" or something like that. I'm sure you will be able to find a chart or something. I know for a fact that nickel is very soluble in molten AL. Don't know about Pd.

 

[scheppy]

Thanks for the info! I get a lot of servors from a friend who upgrades businesses and hospitals, etc.....last servor I got was 2FT x 2FT by 3 FT......TONS OF GOODIES!!! and a ton of scummy drives lol.....guess I'm goin in the aluminum business too.....will post some pics when I get time....thanks again for the input....total noob here!! :lol: