What is the Best Titanium Anode Baskets for Zinc Electroplating

What is the Best Titanium Anode Baskets for Zinc Electroplating

Titanium is an ideal choice for anode baskets as it conducts the electrical current to the nickel metal without acting as an anode itself. This is due to a protective oxide film formed on the titanium surface during electrolysis. Titanium baskets will have a long service life in all nickel plating solutions other than Woods nickel, providing nickel is maintained in pressure contact with the titanium. Then the nickel will take current preferentially and corrosion of the titanium will be avoided. However, under certain conditions, the protective film can break down. This breakdown only occurs when the applied potential or voltage exceeds the breakdown potential of the titanium in the solution concerned. This circumstance can arise when there is insufficient nickel in the basket, or the pieces of nickel being used are too large.

Anode baskets for nickel plating are fabricated from titanium, which has excellent properties of lightness and strength. It is available in a wide range of sheets, mesh, and rods. The thickness of the basket should be large enough to allow the nickel pieces to settle freely during anodic dissolution in a working basket. Ramming the nickel down is not recommended, as this may damage the basket.

As titanium has poor electrical conductivity, it is important the basket be appropriately designed to carry the desired current. Hooks must be fabricated from the bar (not sheet) to maintain pressure contact with the anode rod and to ensure sufficient current carrying capacity and strength. Similarly, it is essential to have side members in the sheet or bar section running the whole length of the basket. The tray at the bottom of the basket is designed to hold the final small pieces of nickel and nickel fines, maintain electrical contact and thus enable complete dissolution.