Value of gold plated copper plates? Where to sell?

[jvfd418]

I'm trying to determine the approximate value of 93 gold plated copper plates and where to sell them. They weigh just under a pound each at 440 grams and have a surface area of about 88 square inches. They are rectangle with a tab at the top. They measure about 6" X 7" X 1/16" with a 2" X 2.5" tab at the top. They are new old stock from an engineering company that used them in large high end batteries for industrial equipment. There was nothing with them indicating what the plating thickness is. I am located in upstate NY near Albany.

 

[element47]

What makes you think that's gold plating? Seems much more likely that it's just irridite...one of several trade names for a popular and commonly used industrial anodized finish applied to aluminum and, I think, steel. That brushed finish....makes me think this isn't gold plated. But it's not in my hands, so I'm just guessing.

 

[rusty]

I think the article is anodized as well, you can see scratches from mishandling.

I have outlined the most obvious one, they're not copper underneath.

 

[Harold_V]

I think the article is anodized as well, you can see scratches from mishandling.

I have outlined the most obvious one, they're not copper underneath.

The parts may or may not be anodized. If they're not aluminum, they aren't. The finish is most likely a chromate conversion coating. It is commonly applied to zinc plating, and used to be applied to cadmium plating as well. It can also be applied to other finishes.

Harold

 

[glondor]

Does NOT look like gold plated to me. colour is waaaaaay wrong. Gold plated copper is very bright yellowish gold. compare.

 

[slickdogg]

Glondor what did them gold pieces in your picture come from?
If you don't mind me asking

 

[glondor]

I really do not know where they came from or what they are. The person I get them from will not say. They are gold over copper though.

 

[philddreamer]

Have you opened one to see what it looks inside? :mrgreen:

Phil

 

[goldsilverpro]

I really do not know where they came from or what they are. The person I get them from will not say. They are gold over copper though.

They look like the bases of hybrid microelectronic packages to me. Usually, an alumina thick film or thin film hybrid circuit will be mounted on the base and then the package will be sealed with a lid. The base metal is usually Kovar or a copper alloy. I would guess the gold thickness is about 45-60 microinches and that the gold is of high purity.

There are tons of different types and configurations.
http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=563&q=hybrid+microelectronic+package&gbv=2&oq=hybrid+microelectronic+package&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1876l58458l0l59021l40l40l2l17l3l0l225l3255l2.17.2l21l0

 

[jvfd418]

Thanks everyone for your help. I still have not figured out what they were made of, but the scrap yard guy knew what they were and pays $62/lb.

 

[Smack]

I just looked at the scrap price list and don't see ANY metal that's remotely close to that price per pound. The closest thing I could see is Scrap Tungsten 99.9% at $22.50.

 

[qst42know]

Due to the price and electrical application (battery/possibly capacitor), I would guess tantalum.

Just a guess of course.

 

[Smack]

If it were Tantalum it would be brittle wouldn't it? Scrap Tantalum $165 to $240 lb., that's mill price.

 

[qst42know]

From the wiki, under physical properties, dense and ductile.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantalum

 

[jvfd418]

I found out that they are actually gold plated stainless steel diaphragms used in the process of turning hydrogen into electricity with the waste product being water. One goes on each end of a fuel "cell". I would guess the scrap yard figured out the value of the gold and just uses the price per pound to make their lives easier since they pay for everything else by the pound. I'm still not sure of the thickness of the plating, purity of the gold or the process used to make them. We have acquired 30lbs more and probably will get another 30 lbs.

 

[qst42know]

They weigh just under a pound each at 440 grams

I still have not figured out what they were made of, but the scrap yard guy knew what they were and pays $62/lb.

Gold plate at .20 cents a sq. in. is about $17. each in gold.

Either your scrap guy is an idiot or he's lying to you. I can't see a scrap guy over paying by so much for something he recognized.

Gold plated stainless, I don't think so.

 

[slickdogg]

Either your scrap guy is an idiot or he's lying to you. I can't see a scrap guy over paying by so much for something he recognized.

Took the words rite out of my mouth

 

[glondor]

I really don't see any gold there. Any one else seen gold look like that?

 

[qst42know]

I just did some calculations using GSP method.

50 microinches X 10.17 X spot price

.000050 X 10.17 X 1560 = .79 cents per sq. in.

6 X 7 X 2 sides = $66 each

If the thickness guess is right there might be some money left in this for your scrap guy.

My apologies.