TOPIC M6

ELECTROPLATING

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the experiment, students have learned to:
1. Conduct electroplating on given metals. (LO4,LO3)
2. Differentiate the coating properties, based on two designated electroplating process
parameters. (LO4,LO3)

CONTENT

7.0 INTRODUCTION
Electroplating is the process of producing a coating, usually metallic, on a surface by
the action of electric current. It is an electrochemical process by which metal is
deposited on a substrate by passing a current through the bath. Electroplating is one of
the ways to prevent corrosion process, increase surface wear resistance, increase
surface hardness, etc. of materials.

7.1 EXPERIMENTAL THEORY

Electroplating system usually consist an anode (positively charged electrode), which is
the source of the material to be deposited; the electrochemistry which is the medium
through which metal ions are exchanged and transferred to the substrate to be coated;
and a cathode which is the substrate (the negatively charged electrode) to be coated.

Plating is done in a plating bath which is usually a non-metallic tank (usually plastic).
The tank is filled with electrolyte which has the metal, to be plated, in ionic form.

The anode is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply. The anode is
usually the metal to be plated (assuming that the metal will corrode in the electrolyte).
For ease of operation, the metal is in the form of nuggets and placed in an inert metal
basket made out non-corroding metal (such as titanium or stainless steel).

The cathode is the work piece, the substrate to be plated. This is connected to the
negative terminal of the power supply. The power supply is well-regulated to minimize
ripples as well to deliver a steady predictable current, under varying loads such as those
found in plating tanks.

As the current is applied, positive metal ions from the solution are attracted to the
negatively charged cathode and deposit on the cathode. As replenishment for these
deposited ions, the metal from the anode is dissolved and goes into the solution and
balances the ionic potential (Refer to Figure 7.1).

Figure 7.1: Schematics of an electrolytic cell for plating metal.

In the case of material such as gold, the anode is not sacrificial (gold does not dissolve
easily!), but it is made out of material that does not dissolve in the electrolyte, such as
titanium. The deposited gold comes out of the solution. Plating is an oxidation-reduction
reaction, where one material gives up electrons (oxidised) and the other material gains
electrons (reduced). The anode is the electrode at which oxidation occurs, and the
cathode is the electrode at which reduction occurs.
Plating is governed by Faraday's Laws that state:
The weight of a substance formed at an electrode is proportional to the amount of current
passed through the cell.

The weights of different substances produced at an electrode by the same amount of

current are proportional to their equivalent weights.
Equivalent weight in an oxidation-reduction reaction is = molar weight of the compound /
algebraic change in oxidation number of the atom that is oxidized or reduced.
e.g. In the reaction

Fe valency (oxidation number) goes from +2 to +3, a change of +1. Therefore and
equivalent of FeCl2 as a reducing agent is equal to 1 mole or 126.75 g. However in the
reaction

Here Fe (+2) is reduced to Fe (0).

The equivalent weight of FeSO4 is 75.96 g which is = molar weight/change in valency.

Some background:
1 Coulomb = 1 Ampere × 1 second
Charge on 1 electron = 1.602176462 × 10-19 coulomb
Charge on 1 mole of
1.602176462 × 10-19 coulomb/electron
electrons =
6.02214199 × 1023 electrons/mole
= 96485.3415 coulombs/mole
 = 1 Faraday

Thus 1 Faraday of charge is equivalent to one mole of electrons being liberated at the
anode. (Do not confuse this with Farad, a unit of electrical capacitance).

In the case of AgNO3, 1 mole of Ag or 107.870 g of Ag is deposited when 1 Faraday of

charge passes from anode to cathode.

In the case of CuSO4, 1/2 mole of Cu or 31.77 g of Cu is deposited when 1 Faraday of

charge goes through the system.

In the case of AgCl3, 1/3 mole of Au or 65.656 g of Au is deposited when 1 Faraday of

charge goes through the system.

Note that in each of the above cases the moles are different depending on the valencies
and the actual reaction taking place. The atomic weight of each element can be obtained
from the periodic table.

Thus 100 Ampere-hours in a CuSO4 solution will plate according to the following formula:

100 A-
= 100 A × 60 min/h × 60 s/min × 1 h
h
= 36 ×104 coulomb
36 ×104 coulomb / [(96485.3415 coulomb/mole-Faraday) × 1
=
mole]
= 3.7311 Faraday

Since 1 Faraday will deposit 31.77g of Copper, 3.7311 Faraday will deposit 118.54 g of
Copper.
Based on the mass of the metal deposited, the thickness can be calculated for objects of
known surface area, because
Mass deposited = Density of the metal × Surface area × thickness.

7.2 EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT

a. 100 ml beaker
b. Graphite rod
c. Set of alligator clips
d. Ammeter
e. 12 volt battery or other power source
f. Electronic balance
g. Hot plate
h. Retort stands
i. Bronze (1 cent coin), Copper-nickel (10 cent coin), Mild steel plate (25mm x
15mm)
j. Electrolyte solution (Deionized water + Sodium copper (IV) sulfate solution
(NaCuSO4))
k. pH meter

7.3 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Students must follow the safety procedure during the experimental work. Students are
required to wear a laboratory coat, glove and safety mask because the experiment
involves chemical solutions.

a. Mount the mild steel plate.

b. Grinding the mild steel plate by using sand paper grit (start with 240, 400 and
600 grit).
c. Polish the mild steel plate by using the polisher machine.
d. Set the apparatus for electroplating process as shown in Figure 2. Pour the
electrolyte solution into a beaker. Check the pH of electrolyte solution by using
pH meter and record the reading.
e. Weight the mild steel plate (initial weight, W o) by using electronic balance and
record the reading.
f. Place the beaker on a magnetic stirrer. Clip the graphite rod at positive terminal
and the mild steel plate at negative terminal. Place both plates parallel in the
electrolyte.
g. Switch on the magnetic stirrer at medium scale and supply 0.3A & 0. current for
10 minutes for electroplating process.
h. Remove the mild steel plate from the beaker and rinse it with deionized water.
i. Weight the mild steel plate (final weight, W f) after the electroplating process and
record the reading.
j. Repeat steps 5 to 9 by using other mild steel plate and run the electroplating
process for 30 minutes.
k. Repeat steps 5 to 10 by using bronze metal and copper-nickel metal.
 Power suply

Ammeter

Rod for cable holder

Anode (graphite rod)

Cathode (mild steel plate)
Beaker
Magnetic stirrer

Electrolyte copper sulfate (CuSO4)

Figure 7.2: Apparatus arrangement for electroplating process

7.4 ACTIVITIES
7.4.1 RESULTS, OBSERVATIONS AND/OR CALCULATION (30%)
a. Fill in the experimental results in the Table 7.1.

7.4.2 QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION (30%)

a. What material should the plating bath be consisted of and why?
b. What ions are present in the electrolyte?
c. Give all relevant half reactions occurring at the cathode and anode (mild steel
sample).
d. Through your observation, explain changes that occurred to the electrolyte solution
during the electroplating process.
e. Is there final weight differences observed when compared to different type of
samples? Why?
7.4.3 CONCLUSION (10%)
State the relevance conclusions from the experiment.

7.5 REFERENCES
a. Smith, W.F. (2010). Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering (5th ed).
Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill. Call number: TA403 .S64 2010.
b. Askeland, D.A et. al. (2010). The Science and Engineering of Material (6th ed).
Mason, OH: Cengage. Call number: TA403 .A84 2010.
c. Murray G. et.al. (2008). Introduction to Engineering Materials (2nd ed). Boca Raton,
FL: CRC. Call number: TA403 .M88 2008.
d. Callister, W.D. Jr. (2007). Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (7th
ed). New York: John Wiley. Call number: TA403 .C33 2007.
e. Jacobs J.A. and Kilduff T.F. (2005). Engineering Materials Technology (5th ed).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Call number: TA403 .J33 2005.
f. Shackelford, J.F. (2005). Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers (6th ed).
Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson. Call number: TA403 .S52 2005.

7.6 APPENDIX

Table 7.1: Electroplating result

10 minutes 30 minutes
Sample Initial weight Final weight Sample Initial weight Final weight
(W o) (W f) (W o) (W f)
Mild steel Mild steel
Bronze Bronze
Copper- Copper-
nickel nickel

* Data sheet must be approved by the laboratory instructor.