Application of insoluble auxiliary anode-Titanium Anodes in Electroplating

    As an insoluble auxiliary anode, titanium anodes are widely used in industrial electroplating applications. Under various plating solutions and working conditions, the basic working principle remains the same. The metal to be deposited is dissolved in the electrolyte, and the metal substrate to be plated serves as the cathode, while the titanium anode functions as the anode, thereby forming a complete current transmission circuit. During the electroplating process, a concurrent chemical reaction occurs on the anode surface, typically involving the evolution of oxygen.

    Titanium anodes are applied in a wide range of processes, such as copper-nickel plating, decorative plating (trivalent chromium plating, jewelry, eyeglasses, home hardware), rack and barrel plating for various applications, electroforming (e.g., dental products, contact bushings, and probes), hard chrome plating, special-purpose electroplating, electrophoretic coating, and white tin copper plating, among others.In trivalent chromium plating, two major plating bath systems are currently used in production: the chloride-based system and the sulfate-based system.Each has its own characteristics. The chloride system offers good conductivity, whiter coatings, and lower startup costs when graphite is used as the anode. However, it also presents several significant disadvantages compared to the sulfate-based system:
•The chloride system can generate harmful substances during the plating process, leading to secondary pollution that is hazardous to human health.
•Graphite anodes have a high oxygen evolution overpotential, which can destabilize the plating solution, cause side reactions, and produce harmful byproducts. •The presence of these byproducts in the plating bath must be strictly controlled.Long-term use of graphite anodes leads to corrosion and deformation, altering the effective anode area, resulting in unstable plating processes and sludge that contaminates the solution.
•Chloride ions are highly corrosive to plating equipment.
•Specialized purification systems are required to maintain bath quality, increasing maintenance costs.

    As a result, an increasing number of trivalent chromium plating processes are shifting to the sulfate-based system and adopting insoluble titanium anodes with noble metal oxide coatings. These anodes remain virtually undissolved during the electroplating process and are therefore often referred to as "dimensionally stable anodes" (DSA).
    At UTron Technology, we have developed and manufactured insoluble auxiliary anode electroplating applications through close collaboration with our customers. These anodes feature titanium substrates coated with mixed noble metal oxides, providing excellent corrosion resistance and electrochemical stability. As insoluble auxiliary anodes, they offer a long service life and consistent performance. Customized sizes and specifications are available to meet the specific needs of different electroplating processes.