Question: Plating Lacquers?

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mischmerz
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Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 37784Unread post mischmerz
Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:52 pm

Just thought about it: How do they electro-plate non-conductive material? AFAIK the first step in the process is silver plating. But how do they silver plate lacquers or wax?

Thanks for your answer.

Michaela

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Aussie0zborn
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Re: Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 37790Unread post Aussie0zborn
Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:33 am

See the process here : http://www.randmuzik.de/english/start.html

The lacquer is firstly cleaned in mild soap to get rid of the oil. Then treated with a solution of stannous chloride to make it receptive to the silver coating.

Once coated with silver, the face of lacquer disc is electroconductive goes into the nickel plating tank for a coating of nickel. Once this nickle electroform is separated from the lacquer disc, the silver is chemically dissolved and the electroform can be used as a Master (or "father") or as a direct stamper.

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mischmerz
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Re: Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 37792Unread post mischmerz
Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:55 am

Thanks for the info. After the process, the silver sticks to the back side of the nickel? And will be dissolved from it?

Michaela

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Aussie0zborn
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Re: Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 37797Unread post Aussie0zborn
Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:17 pm

Once the lacquer and the nickel electroform is separated, the silver sticks to the FRONT side of the nickel (the side with the grooves on it). It is dissolved in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Some light traces of SILVER may stick to the lacquer and these can often be seen under a microscope. Sorry... I HAD TO EDIT THIS. Memo to self : Don't post when you haven't slept!!

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mischmerz
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Re: Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 37813Unread post mischmerz
Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:54 am

Thanks y'all for the info. Since silver plating involves some cyanide and give my clumsiness, I keep away from that sort of things :)

Michaela

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mossboss
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Re: Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 37837Unread post mossboss
Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:33 am

No Cyanide is involved It is not that bad really Silver nitrate sodium hydroxide some formaldehyde and sugar as a reducer or glucose
If you scratch at my posts here, there is a silvering solution recipe, some time back
Best
Chris

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Master_V
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Re: Question: Plating Lacquers?

Post: # 48584Unread post Master_V
Tue Nov 28, 2017 2:31 pm

Does anyone know http://platingsience.com/ ? Would it be sensible to contact them ?

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