Electrochemistry Tin-Cu-Ni-Ag Frames

[Karthikn]

This is a wonderful forum to share insights on metal recovery processes. Kudos to the forum admin.

I have frames from electronic industry with Tin,Ni,Ag and Cu(90%). I want to plate out every metal without touching the base metal Cu. These frames are being held in a basket(anode) and a stainless steel cathode in a HCl electrolyte. Any suggestions on how can I achieve this.

 

[Harold_V]

This is a wonderful forum to share insights on metal recovery processes. Kudos to the forum admin.

I have frames from electronic industry with Tin,Ni,Ag and Cu(90%). I want to plate out every metal without touching the base metal Cu. These frames are being held in a basket(anode) and a stainless steel cathode in a HCl electrolyte. Any suggestions on how can I achieve this.

You most likely can't, not efficiently. Electrolytic process tend to require relatively pure metals in order to work well. Because you're working with large percentages of what would be contamination, i expect you won't enjoy success.

I welcome anything anyone can provide that disproves my thoughts.

HCl and silver do not play well together. I fully expect you'll be stopped by that, alone. All depends on the nature of the material in question, and you have not made that clear. Are the constituents alloyed together, or are they plated on top of one another? If they are plated, what is the sequence?

Harold

 

[Karthikn]

I agree. As you said, the process can't be successful. But my objective is not to touch the copper base since it is more than 90%. I tried electrolysing these plates in a basket, I ended up with all metals getting deposited on the cathode.

The frames have a Copper base followed by Silver, Tin, Nickel.

 

[rusty]

You may want to read this thread and download the document I up-loaded. http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=86&t=19063

fluoroboric acid will not attack copper, they use this acid to remove solder from PCB boards and the attached chips then actually test the chips before re-marketing.