DrMario
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Electroplating iron
I am aware of mainstream processes for electroplating copper and nickel. However, I don't know how one would go about electroplating iron? I have a
metallic electrode I want to cover with a layer of iron - it should be more-or-less smooth and not dendritic. Evaporation and sputtering are not an
option - must be electroplated.
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WGTR
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Iron electroplating and electroforming
http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/84/1/319.abstract
Are you able to access the article?
Also, I would use pulse-reverse plating. I use this method routinely for electrodepositing copper and nickel. It allows for control over grain
structure and provides better leveling.
No matter what method you use, the plating solution must be filtered very well, no dust or foreign particles allowed. Ideally it is constantly
filtered, but for small jobs it is sufficient to filter before use. This minimizes the risk of nodules.
Of course, the chemicals used must be very pure, else the results are unpredictable.
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aga
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WGTR you may well have saved an artist from whatever the equivalent of writer's block is in metalworking artists !
Not me, a neighbour.
Thanks a lot on his behalf !
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gatosgr
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Why do you want to electroplate iron?
[Edited on 5-5-2015 by gatosgr]
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jock88
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US patent No. 3,850,701 has a recipe
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DrMario
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Quote: Originally posted by WGTR  | http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/84/1/319.abstract
Are you able to access the article?
Also, I would use pulse-reverse plating. I use this method routinely for electrodepositing copper and nickel. It allows for control over grain
structure and provides better leveling.
No matter what method you use, the plating solution must be filtered very well, no dust or foreign particles allowed. Ideally it is constantly
filtered, but for small jobs it is sufficient to filter before use. This minimizes the risk of nodules.
Of course, the chemicals used must be very pure, else the results are unpredictable.
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Yes, I should be able to access J. Electrochem. Soc. from my university account. Thank you for the tip. I'm home with a flu so I am not able to read
it now, nor to think straight.
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DrMario
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| Quote: Originally posted by WGTR | http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/84/1/319.abstract
Are you able to access the article?
Also, I would use pulse-reverse plating. I use this method routinely for electrodepositing copper and nickel. It allows for control over grain
structure and provides better leveling.
No matter what method you use, the plating solution must be filtered very well, no dust or foreign particles allowed. Ideally it is constantly
filtered, but for small jobs it is sufficient to filter before use. This minimizes the risk of nodules.
Of course, the chemicals used must be very pure, else the results are unpredictable.
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Ah, the damned Iron(II) salts! I had the feeling I'll need them for this!!! You have no idea how passionately I hate those buggers, sensitive little
snowflakes as they are 
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zed
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Active metal. Seems difficult. If I really needed an "iron electrode", I might try fabricating or casting one directly.
Been about 30 days. Any luck yet?
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WGTR
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If it were me, the first thing that I would try would be making the ferrous salts from iron powder and the respective acids. Excess iron ensures the
ferrous state. For bargain basement chemistry I'd use ordinary mild steel instead.
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hyfalcon
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There used to be a reference in the site library on electroplating. I don't see it anymore, was it removed?
Try this and see if it helps.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015000448939;vie...
and here: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015000449119;vie...
[Edited on 11-5-2015 by hyfalcon]
[Edited on 11-5-2015 by hyfalcon]
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Amos
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| Quote: Originally posted by DrMario |
Ah, the damned Iron(II) salts! I had the feeling I'll need them for this!!! You have no idea how passionately I hate those buggers, sensitive little
snowflakes as they are |
I know you had some trouble with store-bought FeSO4, but I promise they aren't always that unstable. If you're confident in the purity of the reagents
available to you, you can make it yourself, and I doubt it will be as sensitive as the stuff you bought before.
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DrMario
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| Quote: Originally posted by Amos | | Quote: Originally posted by DrMario |
Ah, the damned Iron(II) salts! I had the feeling I'll need them for this!!! You have no idea how passionately I hate those buggers, sensitive little
snowflakes as they are |
I know you had some trouble with store-bought FeSO4, but I promise they aren't always that unstable. If you're confident in the purity of the reagents
available to you, you can make it yourself, and I doubt it will be as sensitive as the stuff you bought before. |
Indeed I made some FeSO4 a while ago. I just checked, and in spite of residual sulfuric acid and tight lid on the bottle, there's some brownish hue
appearing. I still have some FeSO4 under sulfuric acid, and that seems to be holding up.
I had little luck with FeCl2 - it all went to FeCl3 by now.
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DrMario
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| Quote: Originally posted by zed | Active metal. Seems difficult. If I really needed an "iron electrode", I might try fabricating or casting one directly.
Been about 30 days. Any luck yet? |
Due to reasons, I have to prepare the electrode with a given process and then plate it with iron.
I am still preparing for the experiment. I didn't want to even start planning the details before I knew that I have all that is needed. I promise that
I will update this thread when I get 'er done.
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DrMario
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Excellent input - thank you!
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