Zinc Plating Kits
ZINC ELECTROPLATING KITS
Zinc electroplating using the well tried and very popular zinc chloride bath is an excellent method of preventing corrosion of various types of metal objects. The transfer of the zinc metal on to the part to be plated (the cathode) is achieved by electrolysis. Zinc is known to be what is called a sacrificial plated coat. Over a period of time, the zinc sacrifices itself to the atmosphere in order to protect the plated parent metal; the zinc becomes grey in colour and loses its shine over a long period of time.
If chloride zinc plated parts are polished occasionally with metal polish the parts will retain their new bright zinc look for years. The polish blocks the pores in the zinc metal and aids the zinc in retaining the original plated zinc appearance.
Jane Kits has taken advantage of the modern trend of the zinc chlorides plating bath. The zinc crystals supplied in your kit contents will be mixed to make up an all chlorides plating bath. This type of bath is user friendly, easy to control, and produces excellent results. The all chlorides electrolyte will plate successfully on to steel, brass, copper, and as an added bonus will plate on to cast iron. In the past, there have been problems with some types of zinc electrolytes plating on to cast iron, as cast iron has graphite content in the metal. The chlorides bath runs at a PH value of between 4.5 and 5.0 which is mildly acidic.
The zinc plating baths used in the past were cyanide baths or alkaline baths. These were not user friendly and presented problems to the operators by way of skin contact, splashes into the eyes, and the breathing in of fumes from the plating bath.
The Zinc Plating chlorides bath is a room temperature bath which should be operated at a temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius to achieve the best results.
The bath will not plate at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius or lower. This is because the electrical current that is required to flow through the electrolyte to carry the ions of metal from the anodes hanging in the bath to the plating work (cathode) do not travel well through a cold bath. The zinc anodes hanging in the plating bath are the source of the zinc metal that will be plated on to your work hanging in the plating electrolyte. The minute ions of zinc metal are transferred from the zinc anodes hanging in the bath by means of the electrical current to the plating work hanging in the bath (the cathode/s). In theory, under normal conditions, 1 amp will plate an area of 160 square centimetres or 25 square inches.
Parts to be plated should be left in the bath for 45 minutes or an hour. The rate of deposition of the metal to the cathode is approximately one-thousandth of an inch per hour.
Jane Kits have four stock sizes of Zinc Plating Kits available:
4 Litre Zinc Plating Kit –
10 Litre Zinc Plating Kit –
20 Litre Zinc Plating Kit –
30 Litre Zinc Plating Kit –
Although these are stock sizes, we will be happy to provide any other size you may require. If you wish to purchase a larger size than the stock sizes listed, please email your request to sales@janekits.com.au
Jane Kits also sell combination Kits, called DUAL and TRIPLE KITS, which combine multiple plating options together in a single Kit. These Kits provide a cost-effective option if you need to create more than one finish. See the Categories section on our Home page for more information and to order.
KIT CONTENTS
4 LITRE KIT
1 x Power supply – power supply and connecting leads.
1 x Bag Zinc Plating white crystallised chemical marked as ‘4 Ltr Zinc Mix’.
1 x Bottle of KL (this is a zinc additive and is all mixed into the zinc plating bath).
1 x Bottle of TMA (a zinc brightener add 1 ml for every 1 litre of electrolyte in the bath).
1 x Pair zinc anodes.
1 x Bag Metex IT acid salts (This is a pre-passivating activator).
3 x Aluminium pipes – used as hanging pipes for anodes & job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bridge wire – Red electrical wire with red alligator clips attached at each end (used for bridging the two anode hanging pipes together).
1 x Copper wire roll – used to hang job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bundle of stainless wire – used to hang the anodes in the bath.
1 x 60 ml Gold Bright/Yellow chromate (mixing ratio is 15 ml chromate to 1 litre water).
1 x 60 ml Blue Dip chromate (mixing ratio is 15 ml chromate to 1 litre water).
1 x Pair of gloves.
1 x bottle Clear Shield lacquer.
1 x Jane Kits plating manual.
The only items you need to add to successfully plate are:
* A plating container (rectangular plastic or similar)
* Water for mixing your chemical in.
The best plating containers are rectangular shaped plastic containers.
10 LITRE KIT
1 x Power supply – power supply and connecting leads
1 x Bag Zinc Plating white chloride crystals chemical marked as ‘10 Ltr Zinc Mix’.
1 x Bottle of KL (this is a zinc additive and is all mixed in the zinc plating bath).
1 x Bottle of TMA (a zinc brightener add 1 ml for every 1 litre of electrolyte in the bath).
2 x Pair zinc anodes.
2 x Bags Metex IT acid salts (This is a pre-passivating activator).
3 x Aluminium pipes – used as hanging pipes for anodes & job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bridge wire – Red electrical wire with red alligator clips attached at each end (used for bridging the two anode hanging pipes together).
2 x Copper wire rolls – used to hang job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bundle of stainless nickel wire – used to hang anodes in the bath.
1 x 150 ml Gold Bright/Yellow chromate (mixing ratio is 15 ml chromate to 1 litre water).
1 x 150 ml Blue Dip chromate (mixing ratio is 15 ml chromate to 1 litre water).
1 x Pair of gloves.
1 x bottle Clear Shield lacquer.
1 x Jane Kits plating manual.
The only items you need to add to successfully plate are:
* A plating container (rectangular plastic or similar)
* Water for mixing your chemical in.
The best plating containers are rectangular shaped plastic containers.
CLEANING & PREPARATION
With all Jane Kits products, the key to successful plating is in the preparation of the items to be plated. Parts must be chemically clean. In order to ensure that you get pleasing and consistent results, Jane Kits sell very efficient Cleaner Kits (see cleaners). Thorough cleaning is essential in the preparation of parts prior to electroplating.
CONTENTS
The Zinc chemical bath contents you receive will be in a bag containing white chemical in crystal form and 2 bottles of liquid in separate plastic containers. One marked as TMA and the other marked as KL.
The bag of crystals has various chemicals mixed together and the entire contents should be mixed with water. The bottle of KL is a zinc additive and the entire contents should be mixed with the bag of crystals and water. The final volume is the size of the bath that you are setting out to make up. For example, a 4 litre baths final volume is 4 litres and for 10 litre bath it is 10 litres and so on.
To make up the bath take half the water required for the final volume and dissolve the crystals in the bath by stirring them in. Warm water is best for dissolving the chemical. When the chemical is dissolved top up the mix with distilled water until you have exactly the amount required for the final volume. Do not add more water than what is required.
The bottle of TMA is used as a zinc brightener and is added initially at the rate of 1 ml per litre of bath size. It is then added as you go when the brightness of the zinc bath diminishes.
NOTE only use deionised, demineralised, distilled or rainwater to create your plating bath. Do not use tap water. It may have too many additives that will contaminate your bath.
CHROMATES
The Zinc Plating Kit also contains two trivalent chromates to passivate your parts if you desire. Chromates are used in order to coat metal parts to provide a longer life for the part. Chromating is commonly performed on zinc plated parts to make them more durable. The chromate coating acts like a paint, protecting the zinc from white corrosion, this can make the part several times more durable depending on chromate layer thickness. It is commonly used on zinc-plated parts in order to provide protection from corrosion such as white rust or red rust. Chromates can come in many different colour variations: blue, yellow, olive drab or black.
Jane Kits offers four chromates in blue, yellow, olive green and black variations. They are referred to as Gold Bright, Blue Dip, Olive Drab and Black Zinc. These chromates are trivalent chromium chromates and therefore have extremely lower toxicity to the traditional hexavalent chromium that was traditionally used.
Gold Bright is a traditional yellow chromate that is commonly found in many automotive and construction industries. The freshly zinc plated articles are immersed in the Gold Bright working solution for 5 to 30 seconds.
Blue Dip is a trivalent chromate conversion coating for zinc. The freshly zinc plated articles are immersed in the Blue Dip working solution for 20 to 50 seconds. It imparts a clear blue coating with no evidence of yellowing.
Both of these chromates are included in our Zinc Plating Kits or can be purchased individually in various sizes via our website. See CHROMATES / PASSIVATING on our Home Page.
The Olive Drab chromate can be purchased separately on our website (see CHROMATES / PASSIVATING on our Home Page) and is an extremely economical single dip chromate conversion coating, which produces a protective olive-green coating on zinc electrodeposits. Olive Drab produces a heavy chromate film, thereby providing maximum corrosion protection and a better base for paint. It can be used as an economical substitute for an organic primer under paint, saving both materials and labour, or as a final finish, providing both protection and colour. It is commonly referred to as a military colour.
Black Zinc chromate can also be purchased separately on our website (see CHROMATES / PASSIVATING on our Home Page) and is an extremely popular chromate option given the desirable black finish it produces. It is used to produce a black chromate conversion coating on either zinc or cadmium electrodeposit by simple immersion. This process gives a final attractive glossy black finish with very good corrosion protection.
ZINC ANODES
The Zinc anodes hanging in the plating bath are the source of the zinc metal that will be plated on to your work hanging in the plating electrolyte. The minute ions of zinc metal are transferred on to the work in the bath by the system of electrolysis. The anodes supplied are cast by Jane Kits and are circular slabs of 99% pure zinc. The anodes are approximately 75 mm in diameter x 8 mm thick for (4 litre kits) and are drilled to facilitate hanging in the bath on stainless wire. Two anodes are supplied for the 4 Litre Kit and 4 anodes are supplied for a 10 litre kit. For larger kits, the anodes are larger and the number supplied depends on the size of the bath. The zinc anodes are soluble to the zinc electrolyte and must not be left in an idle bath when there is no plating taking place.
All of the Zinc anodes supplied should be used. Position them either side of your parts to be plated in the plating bath. The anodes should be kept clean. Zinc anodes get a film of smut on them during plating. This film is normal; clean them between plating jobs and at the commencement of a day’s plating.
METEX IT ACTIVATOR
METEX IT is a dry acid material that is mixed with water. This is used as a pre-dip activator before passivating. It will improve the appearance of the passivating, enhance the adhesion and lengthen the life of the passivating solution.
PLATEABLE METALS
Zinc Plating is designed to plate directly onto steel, brass, copper, and as an added bonus will plate on to cast iron.
Zinc Plate will not plate directly onto stainless steel, zincated aluminium, or die-cast zinc surfaces without a separate strike. Jane Kits supplies an Ultra Strike Kit that is a non-cyanide, alkaline copper plating process designed to plate onto these metals and will act as a strike for Zinc Plating. (see ‘Electroplating Kits’ for more information on Ultra Strike)
DISCLAIMER
JANE KITS do not accept any responsibility for any injuries or for any ill effects resulting from the careless or improper use of any of our products. No responsibility will be accepted for any injuries or for any ill effects or accidents resulting from the improper storage or lack of your safety markings on our products.
All products should be used with care and as per the instructions in this Plating Manual. All MSDS are available on request.
NOTE Care should be taken by the bath operator no matter what type of bath is being used. Avoid allowing chemicals to remain on your skin for long periods. Safety glasses and clothing that covers arms and legs should also be worn. A well-ventilated room is necessary and avoid inhaling fumes that are present during the plating or mixing processes. A suitable respirator is recommended.
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