FC-T Lead-Tin Alloy High-Density-Rolling Anode Technology

Features of FC-T lead-tin-antimony high-density extruded alloy anode: 

The first generation: The traditional electroplating hard chromium anode has been using lead-antimony or lead-tin-antimony metal casting process for many years. The metallographic structure inside is loose, and defects such as cold shut, cast nodules, shrinkage cavity and oxide inclusions are easy to occur, resulting in In the process of ion movement in production, greater resistance is generated, thereby degrading the quality of the coating. However, the generation of large resistance not only leads to a decrease in production quality, but also generates high heat, which leads to an increase in electricity bills. As we all know, the melting point of lead metal or lead-tin metal is very low, so under the action of heat energy, the lead-tin alloy will gradually separate from the copper hook on the anode, eventually leading to the scrapping of the anode. Therefore, the service life of ordinary lead plates is generally about one year.

The second generation: The rolling technology is used on the basis of the casting process, so that the surface reaches a certain degree of smoothness, but the structure inside the surface layer cannot be changed, causing the plating solution to penetrate into the interior after consuming the surface layer and cause corrosion. Generally, it can be improved for half a year. About service life

The third generation: After summarizing many years of experience, we use high-density extrusion molding (1000-ton extrusion machine extrusion). After using high-quality lead-tin raw materials (purity ≥ 99.9%), adjusting the ratio of lead-tin content (tin content 3-10%, antimony content 2-3%, silver content 0.5-1%), optimizing the structure of the anode and special Extrusion process, the ultimate increase in the density of the metallographic structure and greatly improve the conductivity, thereby reducing the metal pollution of the plating solution, improving the dispersion ability of the plating solution and reducing the impurities of the plating solution, and the surface quality of the coating is improved. significantly improved. We also optimized the shape of the hook, which maximized the contact area between the hook and the copper rod, reduced the resistance, and improved the conduction efficiency, greatly improving the service life and conductivity of the anode, and the service life reached 3 years. Even products with high tin content have been more than 5 years, and the conductivity has generally increased by about 30%.

The reasonable use of FC-T lead-tin alloy anode in hard chrome plating can achieve a service life of 3-5 years or even longer, and save about 30% of electricity consumption, thus making a fundamental improvement in environmental protection

Based on our years experience and new technology of rolling anode, we reconstruct and optimize the anode board and modify the chrome plating anode standards. By using high-quality lead-tin materials (purity rate >99.9%), adjusting rate of lead & tin contains, optimizing anode construction and special rolling tech, it obviously improve the density of the two metals’ inner tissues and speed up the electricit conduct. At the same time, it reduces the pollution of plating liquids, makes the liquids distribute better, and well improves the quality of plating surface, also extends the life of anode board to more than 3 years, as well as reduces electricity consumption by 20%, it fundamentally contributes for enviromental protection.

Operations and Maintainance of Anode

The new anode is better put in the plating bath with electricity, there will be soon produced a dark brown layer on the surface named PbO:L5J, which is a kind of mormal covering layer, it can conduct current, and protect the surface from producing a yellow layer named lead chromate film, when the surface is eroded by chromate (PbCrO), which could cause voltage go higher, even non-conductive, the results in severe quality problems of products. Therefore, when product is finished, the anode has to be put out in time, and be washed clean and soaked in clear water bath.

Basic knowledge of Chrome Plating Anode

The quality of chrome plating is largely influenced by the following factors: shape & size, distribution of cathode and anode, the distance between them, and the shape of platin bath. These factors are related to plating solution distribution during production. It directly affects the distribution of power lines on the cathode surface, which decides whether the current distributes  evenly on product surface.One of the effective way to improve distribution is to increase the distance between cathode and anode, or decrease the difference between the distance of every part of cathode and anode. As increasing the distance between cathode and anode is limited to the shapes and sizes of plating bath, we mainly apply the latter way. During plating, we have to choose the proper shape and assemble the place of anode according to shape and size of product. The anode shape is largedly related to plating liquid with lower ability distribution and coverage. The principle of creating anode is pattern shape, which means the anode shape is basically as same as the surface of products. For most part of roller shaft products, anode should be shape cylindrical, place around cathode， working parts, current conducts from both sides, so power line distributes evenly, it’s better to avoid using flat shape anode. Besides, make sure there is enough current conducting area for the conjuction of anode, anode hook and anode bar. Or the power could be consumed soonly and produces lots of heat, which would cause the plating solution temperature go higher.