IN modern world Copper alloy has become more widespread. It is applied to the surface to give visual appeal to various products. Copper plating at home is often carried out to significantly increase electrical conductivity. In some cases, the process in question is an intermediate operation that allows another substance to be applied to the surface.
Use of copper plating
Copper plating of various workpieces has recently often been carried out at home. In most cases, technology is used to achieve the following goals:
- Decorating metal or plastic. Copper plating of metal at home is often carried out in order to obtain antique-looking products that are very popular. A special aging procedure allows you to create the effect of long-term use of the product. In addition, copper after application resembles gold. That is why a small layer can be applied to obtain a figurine or souvenir.
- Electrotype. Copper plating of steel in a similar way can also be carried out at home. The essence of the technology is to create a wax or plastic base, which is covered with a layer of the alloy in question. Electroforming is often used to produce jewelry or souvenirs, matrices and waveguides. The use of special materials can significantly improve the quality of the coating.
- Obtaining parts used to create various mechanisms. Copper plating of cast iron or other metal is carried out at production sites at various technologies. Coating the workpiece with copper can significantly improve the electrical properties. In a similar way, you can obtain terminals or other similar elements that will be operated under voltage. Products made from pure copper are very expensive. That is why the technology in question is often used.
Copper plating of plastic at home is extremely rare, since such material cannot withstand high temperatures. In addition, the plasticity of the base leads to the appearance of structural cracks.
Features of copper plating at home
Copper plating of metal is a special technology for applying a layer of copper with a thickness of 1-300 microns or more. The features of the technologies used determine that the copper coating will adhere firmly to the metal surface. Among the features that the workpiece acquires, we note the following points:
- Plastic.
- High electrical conductivity. Copper products are well known for being able to conduct electricity without getting hot. That is why products are often created that are coated with a similar alloy.
- More attractive look. Copper glitters in the sun, reflections appear on the surface.
- Under atmospheric conditions, the alloy easily oxidizes and becomes coated. This point should be taken into account when considering where and how exactly the product will be used.
- Over time, copper film becomes covered with spots and rainbow stains.
Copper plating at home can be carried out using a special solution. It is worth considering that the process involves the use of special reagents. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the availability of effective supply ventilation, and individual funds protection. Copper plating of plastic is somewhat different and involves the use of special technology.
Types of copper plating
The procedure in question can be performed even by beginners in the field of metallurgy. To obtain a high-quality surface, you need to know all the features of the process. Copper plating of lead and other metals at home can be carried out using two different technologies:
- Immersed in electrolyte. This technology involves dipping the workpiece into a prepared solution, after which voltage is applied. It is often used when the workpiece is small in size, since a smaller amount of special electrolyte is required. To immerse the workpiece, a bath or other container is required that does not react to the effects of the solution used.
- Without immersion in a pre-prepared container. It is difficult to implement, but also allows you to achieve high quality copper surface film.
In both cases, a supply of electricity is provided, due to which the substance is activated.
Most suitable way processing is selected depending on the result to be achieved. Let's take an example:
- Obtaining a protective and decorative layer. In this case, chromium is often mixed with nickel and copper. Due to this combination of alloys, a reliable surface can be obtained.
- To protect the surface during cementing. Applying a thin layer of copper helps protect the workpiece from cementation. The surface that will be subsequently processed by cutting is covered with the solution.
- Restoration and repair of parts. When restoring chrome parts of cars and motorcycles, the technology in question can be used. When applying a layer of no more than 250 microns, surface defects in the metal can be hidden.
Both processing technologies have their own specific characteristics that must be taken into account.
Copper plating in solution with electrolyte
Electroplating with copper at home with immersion is carried out extremely often. This technology allows you to obtain a uniform coating. The features of this processing method include the following points:
- To remove the oxide film before copper plating, the workpiece is processed sandpaper. After this, the product is washed and degreased with a hot soda mixture. If you don't pay attention preparatory stage, then the process being carried out will not allow obtaining a product resistant to mechanical stress. Metal that is susceptible to corrosion must be well cleaned, since even small chips can make the surface uneven.
- Two plates of the same alloy are lowered into a jar or other container on copper wires. They act as an anode. The container used must be made of glass.
- The workpiece is suspended between two anodes, which is connected to the minus, and the plates to the plus. A battery producing a voltage of 6V can be used as a power source.
- Galvanic copper plating involves the use of a specific solution. It is the connecting element between the part and the anodes. A solution for galvanic copper plating can be prepared by taking 20 grams of copper sulfate and 3 milliliters of sulfuric acid. To dilute and mix these ingredients, you can use 100 milliliters of distilled water. When working with the resulting solution, you need to be extremely careful, since if the substance gets on open areas skin burns may occur.
- Copper plating of aluminum copper sulfate at home can only be carried out if the electrodes are completely covered with the solution. If they are kept dry, they may heat up and melt. During prolonged processing, the substance may heat up and its volume will decrease.
When using the technology under consideration, the current is set at 15 mA per square centimeter. It usually takes at least 20 minutes to cover the entire surface with a special alloy. As the period increases, the coating becomes thicker.
Copper plating without immersion in solution
A similar method is used to coat steel, zinc or aluminum. Coating a product with copper at home in this case is carried out with a wire, from which the insulation is first removed to obtain a kind of brush. The opposite end of the wire is connected to the positive energy source. Chemical copper plating at home also involves the use of a special solution, which increases the efficiency of the process.
Among the features of creating the required solution, the following points can be noted:
- A solution of copper sulfate is used. It can be purchased in specialized stores. In addition, a special electrolyte is made by mixing various chemical elements.
- The composition is slightly acidified. Due to this, the efficiency of the procedure is significantly increased.
The substance is applied to the surface, after which the metal surface is prepared. It is cleaned of contaminants and then degreased. After this, the plate prepared in advance is placed in the bath and a minus voltage from the current source is supplied to it.
This process requires that there is always a layer of electrolyte between the assembled wires and the plate. This ensures a high degree of conductivity. To cover the product small sizes it only takes a few seconds.
After coating, the product is air dried. Various pollutants must not be allowed to enter. The next step is to rub the copper layer with a woolen rag or other cloth. In most cases, the technology in question is used when the product has big sizes and cannot immerse himself in the bath.
Necessary equipment
Copper plating can be applied at home using even the most ordinary equipment. Installation of a bathtub for the procedure under consideration is carried out in approximately the same way as galvanic ones. It is worth considering that there are two types of active solutions: acidic and alkaline.
When working it can be used:
- Small copper plates as electrodes.
- Wire for supplying current.
- A current source, for example, a battery, which is designed to supply a current of 6 V.
- A rheostat can be installed to regulate the current.
Copper plating of aluminum and other alloys at home does not require much time. Various fabrics can be used to clean the resulting surface.
In this interesting video tutorial, we will look at how you can make a solution that will act as an electrolyte for copper plating of any metal objects, for example, aluminum using a toilet duck.
What is needed for the process.
For this we need plastic bottle with water, copper wire without insulation. It is advisable to use a wire with a minimum cross-section so that the reaction area is as large as possible. If there is no copper wire, coins containing copper are suitable. yellow color. Instead of wire or coins, you can use absolutely any copper shavings, scraps, or waste that contains copper. You also need to add a small piece of tin.
The object for copper plating in this video tutorial will be a steel knife handle. In addition to toilet duck, another cleaning product that contains hydrochloric acid, which reacts with copper and dissolves it, may be suitable.
Let's prepare the solution composition for copper plating.
So first let's do the following. The contents of the toilet duck must be poured into a bottle of water to obtain a solution in which the copper will be immersed. Now we put a copper wire and a piece of tin into the solution. After this, this solution must be left, preferably in a warm place, for as long as possible. long term. The concentration of hydrochloric acid contained in the loss requires keeping the jar to dissolve the copper for one month. That's the entire composition of the solution.
Processing a workpiece for copper coating.
Preferably metal blank clean from rust and dirt by boiling in an alkali solution or, at worst, with regular sandpaper.
When cleaning and grinding is completed, it is necessary to degrease the workpiece, since human fingers contain fat.
Before using the copper plating solution, it must be shaken well so that the copper salts are mixed with the liquid. Now you can place the workpiece in the copper plating solution. It is advisable to occasionally shake the container with the electrolyte during copper plating and turn the workpiece over to create an influx of fresh solution to it.
An hour and a half has already passed, you can see how the process went. It is clearly visible that the workpiece is coated with copper. It must be washed with water. Copper adheres to it very well. It turned out very nicely, but it is better not to cover the handle of the knife with copper, as it tends to oxidize and, accordingly, stain your hand. you can do and not only this.
Copper plating is the process of applying a copper layer to the surface using an electroplating method.
The copper layer gives the product visual appeal, which makes it possible to use the technique electroplating copper in design projects. It also gives the metal high electrical conductivity, which allows the product to be subjected to further surface treatment.
Copper plating can be used as the main process to create a surface layer, and also as an intermediate operation for the subsequent application of another metal layer. This method includes, for example, the process of silvering, chrome plating or nickel plating.
Copper plating can be done at home. This makes it possible to solve many everyday problems.
Electroplating at home: equipment and materials
To perform copper coating yourself, you need to purchase the necessary equipment and materials for the process.
First of all, you need to prepare a source electric current. Various home craftsmen advise using current strength, which varies over a wide range. Work must be carried out on direct current.
As a current source, you can take a KBS-L battery with a voltage of 4.5 volts or new battery brand "Krona" with an operating voltage of 9 volts. You can also use a straightener instead low power, providing a voltage of no more than 12 volts, or a car battery.
It is mandatory to use a rheostat to regulate the voltage and smooth exit from the process.
For the electrolyte solution, a neutral container should be prepared, for example, made of glass, as well as wide plastic dishes that are sufficiently sized to accommodate the part. Containers must withstand temperatures of at least 80°C.
You will also need anodes to ensure coverage of the entire surface of the part. They are designed to supply current to electrolyte solution and its distribution over the entire area of the part.
To carry out electroplating at home, you will also need chemicals to prepare the solution:
- copper sulfate,
- hydrochloric or other acid,
- distilled water.
Having prepared everything you need, you can start working.
Copper plating of steel products
Copper plating of steel with copper sulfate is one of the main processes in the field of electroplating because it is used to pre-plate copper. It has high adhesion to the steel surface, unlike other metals that do not have good adhesion to steel. If the technology is followed, the copper layer adheres perfectly to steel products.
There are two coating technologies: with immersing the product in an electrolyte solution and a method of non-contact coating of the surface with copper without placing it in a liquid electrolyte solution.
Copper plating by immersion
The process is carried out following the following steps:
Copper plating without immersion in electrolyte solution
This method is used not only for steel products, but also for aluminum and zinc products. The process goes like this:
There should always be a layer of electrolyte solution between the surface of the part and the improvised copper brush, so the brush must be dipped in the electrolyte constantly.
Copper plating of aluminum with copper sulfate
Copper surface application – great way updating aluminum cutlery and other aluminum products used in the home.
Copper plating of aluminum with copper sulfate can be done independently. A simplified option to demonstrate the process is to coat a simple shaped aluminum plate with copper.
You can practice with this example. The process goes like this:
1. The surface of the record must first be cleaned and then degreased.
2. Then you need to apply a little concentrated solution of copper sulfate (copper sulfate) to it.
3. The next step is to connect the wire connected to the negative pole to the aluminum plate. You can connect the wire to the plate using a regular clamp.
4. A positive charge is applied to a device consisting of bare copper wire with a diameter of 1 to 1.5 mm, the end of which is distributed between the bristles of the toothbrush.
During operation, this end of the wire should not touch the surface of the aluminum plate.
5. Having dipped the bristles in a solution of copper sulfate, begin to move the brush in the place prepared for coating with copper. In this case, there is no need to close the circuit by touching the surface of the aluminum plate with the end of the copper wire.
6. Copper plating of the surface immediately becomes visually noticeable. In order for the layer to be of high quality, there is no need to rush to complete the process.
7. After completing the work, the copper layer must be leveled by additional cleaning, removing the remaining copper sulfate and wiping the surface with alcohol.
Galvanoplasty at home
Galvanoplasty is the process of electrochemical action on a product in order to give it required form metal deposited on the surface.
Typically this technology is used for metal coating metal products. It is widely used in jewelry and the design of household items.
The coating of the work product must have electrically conductive properties. In the absence of such a layer, the object is first coated with graphite or bronze.
The main metals used for electroforming are copper, nickel, silver and chromium. Metallization of surfaces with steel alloys is also used.
Electroplating at home is especially popular among craftsmen. To create the required form, a cast is made from the copy. For this purpose, easily melting metal, graphite and gypsum are used.
After the mold is made, the object is plated using an electrolyte.
In fact, many craftsmen carry out copper plating at home primarily in order to prepare the metal surface for subsequent treatment with various protective layers.
This operation can be applied to surfaces of the most different metals and non-metals, including steel, brass, nickel and so on.
Mankind has been using copper for its purposes for many millennia and this is due, first of all, to the fact that this metal is found in nature in a native state, and in addition, it has a number of unique properties.
Currently, copper and a variety of alloys based on it are in demand in many industrial fields.
Aircraft manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, instrument making and many other industries cannot do without it.
Copper and its numerous alloys are quite common in the domestic sphere.
It should also be noted that copper additives in various combinations can effectively protect the surfaces of many metals, for example, steel, brass or nickel from various aggressive environments.
One of the most common ways to cover thin layer metal surface- this is to apply copper.
In most cases, chemical copper plating is performed at home, and there are several in various ways, each of which has its own pros and cons.
One way to perform copper electroplating at home is shown in the video below.
As mentioned above, in nature copper is usually found in the form of small nuggets.
This unique substance is a fairly heavy metal that looks like a nugget of a bright pink-red hue.
This metal is relatively soft and highly malleable; in addition, it has a melting point of about one thousand one hundred degrees Celsius.
It perfectly conducts not only heat, but also electric current, which explains the increased demand for this metal in electrical engineering and instrument making.
In most cases, in nature, copper is not found in a pure state, but with various impurities.
All kinds of natural supplements depending on various factors in metal can vary and differ from approximately ten to fifty times.
For a given metal great importance has an oxygen content in it, and depending on the amount of this element in the composition of copper, a certain classification has been developed.
So, copper can be oxygen-free and refined.
In addition, there is copper with a high oxygen content in its composition, as well as general purpose when the oxygen content is maximum.
Besides of this element this metal may also contain hydrogen, which gets there due to electrolysis or annealing.
Copper has a certain crystal lattice, and hydrogen atoms occupy space in interstices in it, which means that they have practically no effect on its properties.
If copper contains a certain amount of oxygen in its composition, then hydrogen tends to interact in a certain way, but only with sufficient high temperatures with copper oxide, and in this particular case, water vapor begins to form, which has fairly high pressure values.
This has Negative influence on the metal as a whole and can in some cases lead to the formation of blisters, as well as cracks and tears.
This negative effect is called hydrogen disease by chemists.
Changes in the ductility of copper can be affected for the worse by the presence of iron and antimony.
Those impurities that belong to the group of poorly soluble ones reduce the fragility of this metal, but only at sufficiently high external temperatures, which means that the process of hot pressure treatment is extremely undesirable for copper.
The video above shows chemical copper plating of this metal.
Features of copper plating
To perform copper plating on the surface of steel, nickel, or some other metals, electroplating is used, which forms a thin copper layer.
Galvanic deposition of copper is a rather complex chemical copper plating, which affects the composition of the material.
Electroplating is a preliminary procedure before various protective compounds are applied to the surface of nickel or other metal.
Galvanic copper plating of lead and other materials is usually carried out before chrome plating, nickel plating, and so on.
IN in this case copper acts as a kind of solder or, in other words, as an additional additive.
How to do electroplating yourself is shown in the video below.
Copper applied in this way as solder to the surface of nickel or any other metal is able to adhere quite firmly, and in addition, helps eliminate some defects.
Many other materials as solder are deposited quite well on a surface treated in this way.
Such copper coatings used as solder practically do not change the composition of the original metal and are characterized by high adhesion, good electrical conductivity, and ductility.
Copper is a kind of brightening agent in the form of solder, which practically does not change the original composition of the metal and acts as a kind of additive.
The main method of applying this metal (solder) to the surface of nickel, steel, etc. is electroplating, and the video below shows how to do this at home.
Application methods
To perform copper plating at home, you do not need to have any specific knowledge, you just need to know a school chemistry course.
Due to copper plating, the surface of nickel or other materials does not change its basic composition, since it acts as a kind of solder.
For copper plating at home, you will need fairly primitive materials that can be purchased at any specialized store.
The procedure for plating copper as solder can be performed with or without immersion in copper plating electrolytes (solution).
In both cases, before starting copper plating, the workpiece must be properly prepared.
To do this, it is sanded with sandpaper, thoroughly wiped with a brush with metal bristles and washed under running water.
In addition, copper plating should be started after the workpiece has been degreased, for which a heated soda-based solution is used.
Between these anodes the part to be processed is placed, which is connected to the minus, respectively, the anodes to the plus of the direct current source.
Also, for copper plating, it is necessary to include a rheostat in the circuit.
After this, to perform copper plating at home, prepare special composition electrolyte, a solution with copper sulfate, sulfuric acid and water in certain proportions.
After copper plating, the sulfuric acid compound is drained, the workpiece is washed and thoroughly dried.
The video below shows the process of copper plating at home.
Copper plating of aluminum, copper plating of steel or zinc is carried out using a method without immersion in the electrolyte composition.
In this case, the part is also prepared for copper plating through careful processing and washing.
For convenience, a handle is made on the wire and one of its ends is connected to the plus of a constant current source.
After this, to perform copper plating, prepare a special electrolyte - a solution with the addition of copper sulfate and pour it into a container.
After this, the solution is connected to voltage and with the help of a brush they begin to process the part, thus applying a shine agent.
The entire workpiece (solution) is subjected to the copper plating process within a few minutes.
Upon completion of copper plating, the solution is removed, the part is washed and thoroughly dried. The copper plating process without immersion in electrolyte is shown in the video below.
Almost any metal can be copper-plated by applying it to its surface. protective covering in the form of a layer of copper.
Video:
The process of copper plating of metal products is called electroplating. It is based on the deposition of another metal, soluble in a special liquid, onto the surface of parts.
Copper plating technology includes the production of a solution and the creation of dissimilar electrodes. During the electroplating process, copper ions dissolved in the electrolyte are attracted by the negative pole (workpiece) to its surface.
Copper plating of various parts in industrial scale It is used not only as a final surface treatment process for metal products. It can be used to prepare parts for the next operation, for example, nickel, silver or chrome plating of products.
These metals do not deposit well on the surface of steel parts, but they adhere very well to copper-plated surfaces. In turn, copper deposited on steel parts holds firmly and helps smooth out various defects on its surface.
DIY video tutorial on copper plating a bullet
Copper plating of parts in a solution with electrolyte
For metal parts, you can perform copper plating at home. Let's consider copper plating, with the part being lowered into a solution with an electrolyte. To do this you need to have:
- small copper plates,
- several meters of conductive wire;
- current source, with voltage up to 6 V;
- It is also recommended to use a rheostat to regulate the current and an ammeter.
Operating procedure
Copper plating of the part, without immersion in the solution
The second method of copper plating metal products at home involves performing this process without immersing the workpiece in an electrolyte solution.
This option is suitable for coating zinc and aluminum products.
Operating procedure
- For this method of copper plating, you will need a stranded copper wire, from both ends of which it is necessary to remove the insulation. On one side, the soft wire needs to be ruffled. This produces a product in the form of a brush. To make it more convenient to work in the future, you need to tie a solid object in the form of a handle to this end of the wire. The second cleaned end of the wire must be connected to the positive terminal of the electric current source. The voltage should not exceed 6 V.
- Using the previously described method, you need to prepare an electrolyte mixed with copper sulfate. In this method of copper plating of parts, the solution can be poured into any container. It is recommended to choose a wide container, so that it is convenient to dip a copper wire brush. Next you need a small metal part put in this dish, with low edges. First you need to clean it, boil it in liquid with washing powder, and rinse. This part must be connected using a wire to the negative terminal of the current source, with a voltage of 6 V.
- The copper plating process occurs as follows. The frayed end of the copper wire must be periodically dipped in an electrolyte solution with copper sulfate and passed along the part without touching its surface with a “brush”. But it is necessary to ensure that there is a small layer of solution between the end of the brush and the part (the cathode and anode must always be moistened with electrolyte). During the copper plating process, the negatively charged part attracts copper ions and its surface is covered with a small red layer. After applying the coating, the product must be dried and rubbed until shiny.
