Zinc barrel electroplating using low cyanide electrolytes

The influence of plating conditions on the cathode efficiency of zinc barre l electroplating and the quality of deposited layers for low cyanide electr olytes is analysed. The investigations are carried out using factorial desi gn methodology. The first part of the study shows how electrolyte component s, such as brightening agent, sodium carbonate concentration, sodium hydrox ide concentration, sodium cyanide concentration and zinc metal content, inf luence cathode efficiency and the morphology and the texture of the zinc el ectrodeposits. A mathematical model that fits experimental data is suggeste d and the pseudo three-dimensional plot of yield as a function of electroly te composition for three significant component mixtures, brightening agent, sodium cyanide concentration and zinc metal content, is represented. The s econd part of the study shows how varying six process parameters influences current efficiency and metal thickness distribution. For the range studied , efficiency is affected by workload volume, current density, perforation a nd part size, but not by rotation speed and quantity of charge.