White Bronze
€20.50*
Available, delivery time: 1-2 days
Product information "White Bronze"
Our White Bronze Brush Plating Solution plates an anti microbial layer of white bronze onto a range of different metals.
It can be used instead of nickel because it
- has a similar hardness
- has a similar colour
- can be used to plate a barrier layer between gold on to copper and its alloys
We recommend you use our platinum range of electrodes with our white bronze plating solution.
Please note: This white bronze plating solution solution is air-sensitive so when you’re not using it, keep the lid tightly shut and try to reduce the air space remaining in the bottle. You can do this by adding marbles or glass beads to the bottle or squeezing out the excess air at the top of the bottle. You can also store the solution in a special syringe that’s available on the online shop.
We recommend this solution is stored long-term between 2 – 5 °C.
Please use this solution within 4 weeks of purchase.
If you don’t follow these precautions then the tin component in the white bronze plating solution will degenerate.
Our white bronze brush plating solution is a truly multi-functional product. Because of its anti microbial properties, one of its most important applications is to plate a protective, non-toxic nickel coloured layer onto stainless steel door handles and other touch points, reducing the incidence of microbial transmission. Click on the tab to the right of this to watch a video of a door handle being white bronze plated in-situ.
If you’re planning on creating gold plated copper jewellery or any other decorative or functional item made out of copper that will regularly be worn or handled, white bronze plating is an excellent choice for plating that essential barrier layer between the gold plating and the base layer copper. It is essential because without a barrier layer, the gold plate will eventually diffuse into the copper (including it alloys such as brass) which will result in a patchy, unattractive surface. In the past, nickel plating was used as a barrier layer, but nickel is now banned in the manufacture of jewellery in the EU and so white bronze is the effective, non-toxic and inexpensive alternative.
Please be aware that copper jewellery that will be in constant, close contact with the skin (such as earrings or rings) isn’t suitable for this process. Although white bronze plating is non-toxic, it won’t prevent the underlying copper eventually reacting with the skin, leaving greenish markings. For this reason we suggest that white bronze barrier layers are best on pendants that are designed to be worn over clothes, brooches or belt buckles etc.
Operating Conditions and Deposit Data
| Voltage range | 3.2 – 3.5 volts (see notes) |
| Temperature | 18 – 25 °C (optimum: 22 °C) |
| Electrode | Platinum or copper (see notes) |
| Recommended swab | Extra Fluffy Swab |
| Typical copper/tin ratio in plate (%wt/wt) | 42:58 (see notes and X-ray analysis below |
| Plating Rate at (3.2 volts, Platinum electrode) | Approx. 0.7 micron per minute (spot) |
| Plating Rate at (3.5 volts, Platinum electrode) | Approx. 1.5 micron per minute (spot) |
| Hardness (micro Vickers 10g load) | 450 – 500 Hv |
| Density of deposit | 8.6 – 8.8 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 800 – 850 °C |
| Stress | Medium-high stress (see notes) |
| Special storage requirements | Long-term storage: between 2 – 5 °C (see notes) Air sensitive (see notes) |
| Shelf life | Use within 4 weeks of purchase and store between 2 – 5 °C Important: See notes |
| Health and Safety classification | Harmful |
| Special considerations | Avoid excess air space during storage (see notes) |
| Transport (UN number) | None: Not classified as dangerous for transport |
Notes:
- Increasing the voltage increases the plating rate. An increase of
from 3.0 volts to 3.5 volts more than doubles the plating rate. - Increasing the voltage causes the copper to tin ratio to increase.
- If using copper electrodes, use a voltage range of 2.6 – 3.1 volts.
- Stress can be relieved by heating to 260 °C for 1 hour.
- Important note: When coming out of
long term storage, allow solution to reach room temperature before use. - As the solution ages, the copper content of the plate increases.
- Just before plating, we recommend that the work piece be warmed
by placing it under a tap to approximately 30 °C. - Thickness and consistency will vary over the item. Please refer to our
X-ray analysis illustrating these variations. - Please note: This is an air-sensitive solution. When not in use,
keep the lid tightly shut and take measures to minimise the
air space remaining in the bottle. These can include adding marbles
or glass beads to the bottle or squeezing out the excess air at the
top of the bottle. You can also store the solution in a special syringe
that’s available on the online shop.
Failure to observe the above precautions will result in the degeneration
of the tin component in the solution.
Please click on the ‘Examples’ tab below for suggestions on how
to minimise air contamination.
Similar Items
Content: 0.1 Liter (€91.60* / 1 Liter)
Content: 0.05 Liter (€476.00* / 1 Liter)