Co-deposition of copper zinc alloy in cyanide-based electrolytes

On preparation to produce different chemical compositions of Cu-Zn alloys coatings on graphite substrate using commercial cyanide based electrolytes at 50°C in a stirred solution, two individual anodes were prepared instead of one anode, one of them made from copper and the other made from zinc. The cathodic current efficiency for Cu-Zn alloy plating was studied. The relationship between current densities of individual copper and zinc anodes with percentages of Cu-Zn alloys plating in alkaline solutions was studied also. The results showed that good quality copper-zinc alloy deposits could be produced in cyanide base electrolytes with individual anodes of copper and zinc. Excellent control on the metal ratio in the alloy structure can be achieved by regulating current densities for both individual anodes of copper and zinc to plate Cu-Zn alloy. The deposition potential study indicate that the potential values of -1050 mV and -1207 mV can be applied to produce equal ratio of Cu-Zn alloy.