This newsletter can be found on both LDC's web page, www.ldcbrushplate.com and WRA's web page. WRA archives past issues for easy reference. Visit us at www.wrainc.com or e-mail us at coatings@wrainc.com with your comments. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Wade Wood

NEW SOLUTIONS:

Two new solutions are presently being tested in the field for use in particular applications but may be of interest to others.

LDC-2817, Nickel (PH), a nickel and phosphorous alloy that has a lower melting point than pure nickel. Also, this deposit is less active than pure nickel making it more resistant to salt water-especially when submerged or in an oxygen starved environment.

LDC-2950, Bronze (II), a replacement for the original bronze. The new bronze is an updated solution with a higher % of tin in the deposit. This solution is shipped in two parts and is mixed by the user immediately prior to use.

LDC Copper Solutions

Listed below is LDC's line of copper solutions. This will aid you in your selection of the proper copper for your application.

LDC-2901 Copper Acid D

Primary use: Ideal for the salvage of various parts. Very good for filling pits and scored areas. Excellent for surface sealing prior to nickel plating.

Characteristics: Easy to use, a very reliable solution, deposits very fast and is inexpensive to use. The deposit is a very dense, harder than normal copper metal. Excellent for a non sacrificial corrosion protection. Careful masking is required as it is an acid and corrosive to many metals.

LDC-2902 Copper Alkaline

Primary use: Thin build-up. Sometimes used as a preplate.

Characteristics: Does not corrode base metals. More porous than acid coppers.

LDC-2903 Copper Hi-Speed

Primary use: Ideal for salvage aspects and thick deposits.

Characteristics: The fastest plating build-up solution in brush plating. For easier control, dilute solution 50% with de-ionized water. Easy to machine or grind, very hard deposit for copper. Careful masking is required, is corrosive to ferrous metals.

LDC-2904 Copper Alkaline HiSpeed

Primary use: Ideal for salvage and filling scored areas or pits.

Characteristics: Fastest plating alkaline solution. Throws well into pits and scored areas. Does not corrode base metals. Erodes graphite anodes less than other copper solutions. The deposit is more porous than acid copper.

LDC-2905 Copper Neutral

Primary use: Primarily designed for dilitho printing cylinder repair.

Characteristics: Does not corrode base metals. Somewhat porous, can produce moderately thick deposits, a slow build-up rate. A neutral pH factor.

2001Training Schedule

Classes at LDC's Norfolk, Virginia, facility are scheduled for the below listed dates. Please call LDC at (800) 321-9194 two weeks in advance to make reservations to attend.

January 08-11 (Basic)
February 05-08 (Basic)
March 05-08 (Basic)
April 02-05 (Advanced)
May 07-10 (Basic)
June 04-07 (Basic)
July 09-12 (Basic)
August 06-09 (Advanced)
September 10-13 (Basic)
October 01-04 (Basic)
November 05-08 (Basic)
December 03-06 (Advanced)

TECHNICAL TIPS:

On occasion, a customer will forward a process they feel might be helpful to someone. Try this one.

When preparing your iron or steel parts for plating, you need to remove any grease or oil that has been absorbed into the parts. Using several anodes with cotton or dacron felt wraps, Electroclean (LDC-01) in reverse current for at least two minutes and as much as 30 minutes for very dirty parts. The wrap absorbs the impurities quickly, when the wrap is saturated with the grease or oil, replace it with a clean one and continue until the wrap shows no evidence of impurities. The whole process can take some time, but is well worth it.

Do not try this on aluminum--LDC-01 in reverse will etch the part.

GRAPHITE ANODES:

Although the present trend towards permanent tooling is with platinum clad niobium anodes, graphite has not been replaced as the most used anode material.

When using graphite anodes, one has to be careful when drilling holes and tapping those holes for stainless steel inserts.

Graphite anodes should always be marked in an area that does not have contact with the surface of the part during plating. Use a high speed rotary tool or a white magic marker to clearly identify the anode.

NEW ITEM:-POLISHING BARS

Available now-an aluminum oxide polishing bar for cleaning, smoothing, finishing and polishing soft plating deposits like copper, bronze, silver, zinc and tin. Also, can be used to remove sharp edges around grooves or scored areas and damaged areas due to corrosion on the base metal to be plated. Works on most steels, irons, aluminum, copper and its alloys. The bars are somewhat flexible, non-conductive, non-loading and do not produce dust.

Dimensions:

PA-550 5"Lx 3/4"W x 3/8"H
PA-551 5"Lx1"Wx5/8"H