Please note: Requires further additions of battery acid in order for it to function.
Please refer to the Tech Specs and Product Details for more information.
Platinum Tank Plating Solution contains 10 grams of platinum per litre. It plates a hard wearing, bright layer – great for both decorative or functional applications of up to 10 microns.
This solution can be used for platinising titanium.
This solution can be used to plate directly onto a variety of metals including gold, silver and copper.
Why choose Spa Plating?
Wesave you time and money because…
Our plating solutions have been fully tested for optimum efficiency and ease of use.
We have developed unique equipment such as our power source, the MultiPlater and processes that get the best out of every product we sell
Our Plating Calculators take the guess work out of achieving top quality plating results for the minimum time and cost
We provide free online technical support via our YouTube channel and on each product page under the Blue Tabbed Panel.
HS Code: 3824 99 70
Our platinum tank plating solutions plates a bright, hard wearing layer. This makes it very suitable for items such as rings and bracelets.
You can use this solution to platinum tank plate titanium electrodes.
You can maintain the efficiency of your solution by topping up the level of platinum with our platinum tank replenisher.
Here’s a video showing how to use out platinum tank plating kit and platinum solution.
Bright with medium hardness can be used to plate gem stone settings as it enhances the brilliance of diamonds and other precious stones.
Hypoallergenic Makes it a very suitable finish for personal items such as jewellery
Doesn’t oxidise Used for functional applications such as plating over silver electrical connectors and plating surgical instruments.
Platinum concentration: 10 grams per litre
Platinum Tank HB Plating Calculator
How to use this calculator:
Enter the required thickness in microns. One micron is one thousandth of a millimetre. Do not exceed 10 microns.
Enter the surface area you are plating in square centimetres (cm²).
Click ‘Calculate’.
Set your rectifier or MultiPlater™ to the amp setting shown. Read the plating time in hours:minutes:seconds.
If you use our Coulometer, use the Coulombs (C) result as your target charge. Start the counter from zero and plate until it reaches this value, using the current shown.
Read the volume of Platinum Tank HB Replenisher to add before starting the plating sequence.
The final result shows the estimated weight of platinum plated in grams.
Click ‘Print Page’ to print a report containing your inputs and results.
Notes
Operating conditions
Maintain the solution between 40 and 60°C; we recommend 50°C. Use no agitation or minimal agitation. Refer to the Tech Specs for solution preparation and electrode requirements.
Thickness and adhesion
Plating above 10 microns may cause the platinum coating to peel. For coatings thicker than 3 microns, the Tech Specs recommend heat treatment at 400°C for 3 hours to relieve internal stress. Check that your article can withstand this treatment. Sandblast or grit-blast titanium before plating.
Replenishing the solution
Use Platinum Tank HB Replenisher, which contains 20 grams of platinum per litre. The calculator allows 5 ml of replenisher for every 0.1 gram of platinum plated. Avoid adding the same replenisher allowance twice if you already track and replace platinum used across several jobs.
Using the Coulometer
When using the Coulometer, avoid creating a short circuit: charge passed through a short circuit does not contribute to the deposit and can make the reading inaccurate or invalidate the result.
Controlling low currents
Small items require low plating currents. The MultiPlater™ lets you set currents as low as 0.0001 amp, making it particularly useful for these jobs.
Operating Conditions and Deposit Data
Plating Factor
0.01 A/cm2
Maximum deposit thickness
10 microns (see notes)
Plating rate
2 microns per hour 0.01A/cm2
Temperature
Range: 40 – 60°C, 50°C recommended
pH
~2
Platinum concentration
10 grams per litre
Turnovers to exhaustion
3 – 4 (see notes)
Agitation
None to Minimum (see notes)
Anodes
platinum rod electrodes (bagged) prefered or mesh. (see notes)
Lightness (L*) of deposit
72
Platinum content in plate
99.9%
Cathode efficiency
~25% at Plating Factor = 0.01A/cm2
Hardness
450 – 500 Hv
Density of deposit
21.3 g/cm3
Stress
Medium – high
Special storage requirements
Away from sunlight
Shelf life
Over 2 years
Health and Safety classification
Irritant
Special considerations
None
Transport (UN number)
UN number: None
Notes:
When plating on titanium, it is essential to sand/grit blast the surface prior to plating.
A grey deposit will turn grey if the concentration of platinum drops below 3 grams per litre.
We recommend adding 40ml per litre of of solution to restore its bright plating characteristics.
Alternatively, use the Platinum Concentration Calculator to establish a more accurate addition.
A turnover is is defined as one complete replenishment of platinum. In the case of Platinum
Tank Plating Solution HB which has a solution exhaustion of 3 – 4 turnovers, as the initial concentration of platinum is 10 grams per litre, a turnover for 1 litre of solution is 10 grams and therefore bath will be be exhausted at between 30 to 40 grams of platinum plated.
Plating over 10 microns may result in delamination of the platinum film.
Gassing should not occur. If it does, this may indicate low platinum concentration or excess agitation or both.
For coatings greater than 3 microns, heat treatment at 400°C for 3 hours is recommended in order to relive internal stress.
In order to minimise pitting, bagging of the anodes is strongly recommended.
It is possible to plate directly onto copper with this solution. Click HERE for a video showing a peel test conducted on copper plating with 2 microns of platinum using Platinum Tank Plating Solution HB.
To prepare 1 litre
1. Add 1 litre of Platinum Tank Plating Solution HB to our 1 litre plating beaker.
2. Add 20millilitre of Battery Acid (30% – 35%). See notes below.
3. The solution is now ready for use.
Notes:
If Battery Acid (30% – 35%) is not available, please contact us with the percentage which
is available and we will advise on the addition accordingly.
This product cannot be transported outside the UK because it is UN classified for transport.
APC: Delivery usually takes 2–7 working days from dispatch.
Free UK mainland delivery: We offer free delivery on UK mainland orders over £200.
International delivery: Not available on this product.
Where available, we list alternative or substitute products on the product page or under Related Items below the tabbed panel.
Shipping costs: Add the items you require to your shopping cart, where you can calculate the delivery charge before checking out.
Please click on the link below to download the SDS for this product:
Preparing the surface for electroplating - creating a water break-free surface
Good surface preparation is one of the most important steps in successful electroplating. In fact, many plating problems occur because the metal surface hasn't been cleaned or prepared properly.
Before you start plating, your aim is to achieve a water break-free surface. This gives your plating solution the best possible chance of producing a sound, well-adhered finish.
The following guidance applies to pen, brush and tank electroplating.
What Is a Water Break-Free Surface?
A water break-free surface is a metal surface that’s completely clean and free from grease, oil and other contamination.
You can check this by holding your item under gently running water.
If the water flows evenly across the surface without forming droplets or pulling away into patches, you’ve achieved a water break-free surface.
However, if the water gathers into droplets or breaks apart, contamination may still be present. You’ll need to repeat the cleaning process before plating.
The photograph of the copper sheet above shows the difference.
On the top half of the copper sheet, contamination causes the water to gather into droplets.
On the bottom half, the water drains away evenly because the surface is clean. This is the water break-free finish you’re aiming for.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Metal Has the Finish You Want
Before cleaning, check that your item has the surface finish you want to achieve.
Electroplating follows the contours of the underlying metal. Therefore, it won’t hide scratches or turn a matt surface into a highly polished one.
If your item needs polishing, complete this first.
If your work needs a lot of polishing and surface finishing you will need to make sure all of the residue from these processes are completely removed before attempting to electroplate.
For more information, see our guide to Hand and Machine Polishing Metal for Electroplating.
Step 2: Removing Polishing Compounds, Grease and Dirt
If you’ve polished your item with Autosol or used a polishing machine, you’ll need to remove any remaining polishing compounds.
Start by cleaning the surface with a suitable solvent or our MetaPrep.
Next, use liquid detergent to remove any remaining solvent or MetaPrep.
Finally, rinse thoroughly under running water until you’ve removed all traces of detergent.
This initial cleaning stage prepares your item for the final cleaning and activation process.
Step 3: Clean and Activate the Surface
Cleaning removes dirt, grease and oil. Activation removes the oxide layer that can form on metal surfaces.
Some metals, particularly stainless steel, nickel and nickel-containing alloys such as nickel silver, need special attention because of their oxide layers.
Spa Plating offers several ways to clean and activate your work. The best method depends on the metal you’re plating, its size and its surface condition.
For Small and Medium-Sized Items
If your item has a fairly smooth surface and isn’t made from stainless steel, nickel or a nickel-containing alloy, we recommend MPU (MetaPrep Ultra).
MPU removes remaining traces of oil while activating the metal surface at the same time.
Apply it using tissue paper, making sure you treat the whole surface.
For Stainless Steel, Nickel and More Difficult Surfaces
If you’re preparing stainless steel, nickel or nickel-containing alloys, we recommend our ActiClean.
ActiClean cleans and activates the surface in one process.
It’s also a useful choice for very large items or those with uneven surfaces.
For this process, use a Carbon Electrode, preferably, or a Platinum Electrode.
For Tank Plating and Items with Recesses
If you’re preparing items for tank plating, you can use our powered Cleaning Beaker together with our Cleaner. You can use our in-house designed and manufactured MultiPlater to power this stage.
This powered immersion method is particularly useful for items with rough surfaces or recesses.
For example, some surfaces may catch on a cleaning swab, while recessed areas can trap traces of MPU. The Cleaning Beaker provides an alternative way to prepare these items.
Step 4: Check for a Water Break-Free Surface
Once you’ve completed the cleaning and activation process, it’s time for the final check.
Hold your item under gently running water and watch how the water behaves.
If it flows evenly across the surface without forming droplets or breaking apart, your item has passed the water break-free test.
However, if the water gathers into droplets or pulls away from certain areas, repeat the appropriate cleaning steps.
Don’t start plating until you’ve achieved a water break-free surface.
Ready to Start Plating?
Once you’ve achieved a water break-free surface, you’re ready to move on to the appropriate plating process for your metal.
Remember, taking a little extra care during surface preparation can make a considerable difference to your final plating result.
