A NEW PROCESS OF ELECTROPLATING ON TITANIUM AND TITANIUM-ALLOY FOR AEROSPACE

Titanium is a very active metal on which a natural, impervious oxide f ilm is easily formed which must be removed before plating. This film f orms rapidly, and it is not sufficient merely to remove it, it must be replaced by a more receptive film for satisfactory plating. A new sim ple and effective process of electroplating on titanium and its alloys is developed. The preparative procedures are as follows: cleaning, et ching, activating. An etching solution containing nitric acid, hydrofl uoric acid and hydrogen peroxide is used to etch both titanium and its alloys at room temperature before they are activated in different sol utions respectively. In the activating solution, an 'active film' is f ormed on the surface of titanium or its alloys. The 'active film' prov ides good adhesion between the surface of titanium and any metal subse quently electroplated thereon.