Bright Acid Tin Process

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
TINBRITE BRIGHT ACID TIN PROCESS

HIGH SPEED BRIGHT TIN PLATING PROCESS
TINBRITE BRIGHT ACID TIN PLATING is a high speed process specially designed to
produce a highly levelled, mirror bright tin deposit on variety of base metals in vat and
barrel systems.
Tinbrite deposits have excellent solderable characteristics, which continue to remain
unchanged after prolonged ageing. The brilliant finish of Tinbrite tin deposits are resistant
to tarnish-and finger prints.
Tin brite deposits offer high corrosion protection because they are non-porous, dense and
possess excellent covering and levelling properties. The deposits are now being widely
used as replacement for decorative coatings such as gold, silver, tin-nickel, solder and
other tin coatings in the manufacture of such diverse items like jewellary, semi-conductor
devices, electronic components, hardware, wire goods, zippers and cast iron appliances.
In addition, it is used as an etch resist and solderable coating for printed circuit boards.
BATH COMPOSITION
Stannous Sulphate
Sulphuric Acid C. P.
Tinbrite make up brightner
Tinbrite Maintenance brightner
g/l
ml/l
ml/l
ml/l
VAT
Range Optimum
30-60
40
70-150
100
35-45
40
8-10
9
BARREL
Range Optimum
30
30
80-120
100
35-45
40
8-10
9
OPERATING CONDITIONS
Temperature
Anode Current density
Cathode Current density
Voltage
Agitation
A/dm 2
A/dm 2
Filtration
Anode to Cathode Ratio
Plating Rate
20 - 35 0C
20 - 35 0C
0.5 - 1.5
0.5 -1.0
1.0 - 2.5
1.0 -1.5
1 - 3
4 - 6
Cathode rod movement for vat plating.
Air Agitation NOT recommended.
Continuous
2 : 1
1 micron/minute at 2 A/dm 2
also available online at www.growel.com
BATH MAINTENANCE
Periodic analysis and adjustment of the Tin metal and Sulphuric Acid content should be
performed in the bath and should be maintained in following recommended limits :
Tin Metal
Sulphuric Acid :
Barrel
Vat
Range
12-18 g/l
15-25 g/l
Optimum
15 g/l
20 g/l
Barrel
Vat
80-120 ml/l
70-100 ml/l
100 ml/l
100 ml/l
The consumption of brightner will depend on various parameters such as degree of

brightness desired, drag out, temperature. In normal cases, the consumption of brightners
are as follows :
Vat
Barrel
Tinbrite make up
Tinbrite maintenance
100 - 200 cc per KAH

200 - 400 cc per KAH
For optimum uniformity of deposit and appearance, brightner additions should be made
at frequent intervals.
Performance of Bright Acid Tin Bath cannot be established from usual Hull Cell method
of testing, since it does not give correct interpretation of the actual performance. The
best method of testing is to take 1 litre plating solution under test, introduce two small
anodes near the wall of the beaker, take bend cathode and introduce at the centre of anode
and move the cathode either manually or by suitable cathode rod movement equipment.
Plate for 5 minutes at current density of 1-2 A/dm2 and interpret the bath conditions.
OPERATING VARIABLES
TIN CONTENT :
Tin metal content between 8-12 g/l favours good deposit brightness and better throwing
power at low current density areas. However, cathode efficiency at high current density
decreases. Hence low tin metal content is recommended for barrel as well as for Vat
Plating, where low current density area brightness is important.
Tin metal content above 20 g/l have high cathode efficiency but the throwing power areas
and brightness at low current density diminish.
TEMPERATURE :
The temperature of the bath should be maintained between 20-350C to obtain desired
results.
Temperature above 350C has a tendency to produce dullness at low current density areas
for higher consumption of brightners to obtain desired results. Hence, it is necessary to
maintain temperature by use of cooling coils or heat exchanger, either made of Teflon
or Titanium.
ANODES :
Anodes should be 99.99% pure tin.
Polypropylene Anode Bags are suitable.
FILTRATION:
Filtration is recommended in both Barrel and Vat Plating, to avoid any roughness resulting
in porosity of deposit.
PLATING TANKS :
M. S. Tanks lined with approved quality of rubber are recommended for large installations.
PVC/FRP can be used for medium installations and plastic moulded tanks for smaller
installations.
CHLORIDE :
Particular care must be taken to prevent any introduction of chloride ions, by drag-in of
rinse water containing chloride ions from the rinse tanks. Chloride concentration excess
of 0.2 g/l causes poor throw and deterioration in brightness. Chloride ions once introduced
cannot be easily removed.
PURIFICATION :
Most common Metallic impurities such as copper, iron etc., can be removed by
Electrolytic purification, accomplished by using corrugated dummy Cathode at current
density 0.3 A/dm 2.
During plating, organic impurities creep in to the solution by drag in of pre-treatment
solutions and cause problems in proper plating. If the contamination is not severe the
solution can be continuously filtered through a small amount of carbon packed within the
filter. Should the solution become seriously contaminated with organic impurities, 2-3
g/l of carbon treatment and 1-2 cc/l Sediwell SN is recommended to remove the
contamination. This treatment will remove the make up and maintenance brightner partially
and it is therefore recommended to add these brightners as under :
Tinbrite Make-up Brightner
Tinbrite Maintenance Brightner
10 - 15 cc/l
1 - 2 cc/l
However, exact additions of these brightners should be established by testing procedure

as explained above.
During processing and also in idle periods the stannous ions get oxidised to stannic ions
in colloidal form, which are not easily removed by filtration. To remove collodial precipitate,
we recommend the use of Sediwell SN at the rate of 2-4 cc/l. After adding the Sediwell
SN allow the precipitate to coagulate for 2-3 hours and then filter the solution.
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURE
TIN METAL
Reagents:
20% Hydrochloric Acid
Starch Indicator
0.1N Iodine solution
Procedure:
Pipette 5 ml of solution into a 300 ml flask, add 20 mls 20% Hydrochloric Acid and 100
ml deionised water. To this, add 10 ml of starch solution (freshly prepared). Titrate with
iodine solution to a blue - violet end point.
Calculation :
ml 0.1N Iodine used x 1.187 = g/l Stannous Tin
or
ml 0.1N Iodine used x 2.14 = g/l Stannous Sulphate
N. B. : The starch indicator solution (1% by wt.) must be prepared freshly before analysis.
SULPHURIC ACID
Apparatus Needed :
5 ml pipette
50 ml Burette
100 ml Graduated Cylinder
250 ml Erlenmeyer Flask
Reagents Needed :
4.0% ammonium oxalate (NH4)2.C2O4H2O) solution :
Dissolve 40 gms of ammonium oxalate in deionized or distilled water and dilute it one litre.
1.0 N Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution : Dissolve 40 gms of C.P. Grade Sodium Hydroxide
pellets in 500 ml of distilled water and dilute to one litre.
1% Methyl Red Indicator - Dissolve 1.0 gm of Methyl Red Sodium salt in 100 ml of deionized
water.
NOTE : Do not use Alcohol - based Methyl Red Indicators
Procedure :
1.
Pipette 5 ml of the Stannolume Operating solution into a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask.
2.
Add 100 ml of the 4% ammonium oxalate solution and 5 drops of the Methyl Red
Indicator
3.
Titrate with 1.0 N Sodium Hydroxide Solution until the colour changes from red to yellow.
Calculation :
(ml Sodium Hydroxide titrated) x (Normality Sodium Hydroxide) x 5.3 = ml/l Sulphuric Acid
REPLENISHMENT :
Maintain the Sulphuric Acid concentration at 100 ml/l. Low concentration of Sulphuric Acid
will result in poor low current density brightness.
WASTE TREATMENT :
The Stannolume operating solution contains tin metal and sulphate and is acidic in nature.
It should be neutrailized to a pH of 7.5 to 8.0 prior to disposal into sewage system.
FAULT FINDING AND RECTIFICATION OF TINBRITE PROCESSS

FAULTS
CAUSES
CORRECTION
1. Dark Deposit
Large excess of Tinbrite

Maintenance Brightner
Add make-up at the rate of

5.0-20.0 cc/l
2. Dullness at low
current density
areas and around
the holes.
a) Lack of maintenance
brightner
b) High tin metal content
(above 30 g/l)
c) High operating temperature
(above 35 0C)
d) No plating at too low
current density.
a) Add 1.0-2.0 cc/l

Maintenance brightner
b) Reduce anode area or
dilute the bath
c) Cool the bath to
operating temperature.
d) Increase to optimum
current density.
3. Over all bath

dullness or haziness
a) Low concentration of
maintenance brightner
b) Very high operating
temperature (above 35 0C)
a) Add the required

b) Reduce to optimum level
4. Dullness at high
current density area
Lack of make-up brightner
Add 5.0-20.0 cc/l make-up

brightner
5. Pitting
a) Operating at too high

current density
b) Large excess of
a) Reduce the current

density
b) Add 2.0-5.0 cc/l
make-up brightner
6. Poor solderability
a) Poor rinsing
a) Improve rinsing by
adopting double rinse or
counter flow rinse system
b) Remove source of
contamination and dummy
or dilute the bath
c) Add 5.0-10.0 cc/l
make-up brightner
d) Use copper or nickel strike
prior to tin plating
b) Metal contamination
(Nickel, Iron)
c) Excess maintenace
brightner
d) Zinc Migration
7. Solution becomes
turbid
Excess of stannic tin
Treat with 2-4 cc/l. Sediwell

SN and decant the solution
to remove sediment.
Issued on : 7.6.00
Supersedes all earlier

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TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

TINBRITE BRIGHT ACID TIN PROCESS

The consumption of brightner will depend on various parameters such as degree of

100 - 200 cc per KAH

TINBRITE BRIGHT ACID TIN PROCESS

also available online at www.growel.com

Polypropylene Anode Bags are suitable.

However, exact additions of these brightners should be established by testing procedure

TINBRITE BRIGHT ACID TIN PROCESS

also available online at www.growel.com

TINBRITE BRIGHT ACID TIN PROCESS

also available online at www.growel.com

FAULT FINDING AND RECTIFICATION OF TINBRITE PROCESSS

Large excess of Tinbrite

Add make-up at the rate of

a) Add 1.0-2.0 cc/l

3. Over all bath

a) Add the required

Lack of make-up brightner

Add 5.0-20.0 cc/l make-up

a) Operating at too high

a) Reduce the current

Excess of stannic tin

Treat with 2-4 cc/l. Sediwell

also available online at www.growel.com

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