Alkaline Non-Cyanide

E-Brite Ultra-Cu is a unique non-cyanide alkaline copper plating process.

Today, American cyanide copper platers face Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations in reporting potassium and sodium cyanide. Switching to E-Brite Ultra Cu eliminates cyanide and the DHS regulations of reporting cyanide.

EPI was the first with a heavy production proven, non-cyanide, non-pyrophosphate, alkaline copper plating process with E-Brite Ultra-Cu. It does the “impossible” by plating directly onto steel, brass, copper, stainless steel, zincated aluminum, electroless nickel, sulfamate nickel as well as diecast zinc surfaces with out a separate strike. Ultra Cu copper has outstanding adhesion to difficult-to-plate die-cast zinc surfaces. The single additive bath produces superior results in both barrel and rack installations as either a strike or plate bath. It covers better and has greater throwing power than cyanide copper.

Do you own an iPod? Watch our copper plating experiment at Sur/Fin 2008.

You can also check out the copper plating experiment that PopSCI.com did using EPI’s electroplating chemicals. Click here to see more videos from EPi. If you would like more information on electro plating, don’t miss our Electrochemical’s Blog for great information about the the metal plating industry, our products, and upcoming events.

Want more information about copper plating? Read our Copper Plating FAQ, or our Technical Paper about Alkaline Cyanide-Free Copper Plating Process for Functional and Decorative Plating.

E-Brite Ultra-Cu is an outstanding pre-plate copper strike for bright nickel, acid copper, tin and solder plates. It is an excellent heat treat stop off plate and EMI shield. It is also an excellent decorative finish for buttons, rivets, lighting fixtures and builders’ hardware. The copper plate can be readily blackened or oxidized for a variety of attractive antiqued finishes.There are no carbonates to be treated. It contains no strong chelators. It is supplied as a liquid concentrate which is diluted with water.

E-Brite Ultra-Cu produces a fine grained, smooth, dense and ductile copper deposit which is nonporous and has excellent bonding properties. The throwing and covering power of the non-cyanide process is superior to cyanide processes. This is especially evident in barrel plating.  It has uniform low current density distribution with excellent micro-throw. It also has greater throwing power than acid copper.

The grain is smaller than cyanide copper which increases the density of the deposit. This density provides excellent heat treat stop off and masking properties. The fine grained E-Brite Ultra-Cu deposit under nickel/chrome improves the overall corrosion resistance and helps to throw the nickel farther into the low current density areas.

The E-Brite Ultra-Cu produces a softer and more ductile deposit than cyanide or acid copper. The soft deposit imparts improved adhesion and corrosion resistance and greatly improved resistance to thermal shock. It has a high deposit purity and hence no out-gassing with subsequent brazing, soldering or vacuum operations.

E-Brite Ultra-Cu is simple and inexpensive to use because it replenishes the copper in solution by dissolving the copper anode and here again it is a unique product with only one maintenance additive.

Copper Plating Benefits

• One solution serves as both a strike and a plate bath.
• Eliminates the inherent dangers of cyanide in the work place and improves employee health and safety.
• Eliminates the concern for a catastrophic accidental acidification of cyanide.
• No cyanide in F-006 sludges.
• No danger of cyanide if a fire occurs in a plant.
• Eliminates waste treatment costs for destroying cyanide.
• Lower copper concentration which means less sludge generation.
• No carbonates to be treated. No carbonate sludge containing cyanide.
• Eliminates the Toxic Release Inventory report for cyanide.
• The accidental drag-in of E-Brite Ultra-Cu into an acid copper solution poses no health hazards.
• Reduces fire and liability insurance premiums.
• E-Brite Ultra-Cu has excellent bath stability and high efficiency. The bath does not have to be dumped as with other baths due to breakdown products or iron buildup.
• The bath is easily maintained by monitoring the pH and copper metal concentration.
• It has a very wide operating window.

• It is easily installed in existing plating lines with only a new liner required for the cyanide copper tank. One tank of E-Brite Ultra-Cu  serves the purpose of both the copper strike and the copper plate.
• E-Brite Ultra-Cu is supplied as a liquid concentrate which is diluted with water.

• Start taking advantage of the E-Brite copper plating chemicals today!
• Call 1-262-786-9330 to order E-Brite Copper Plating Chemicals, or use our online request form.

E-Brite Ultra Cu-Mg copper plating process produces excellent adhesion and corrosion protection on AZ91 magnesium castings. Cyanide copper processes produce adhesion with average salt spray results 24 hours ASTM B-117 and parts can not be baked without blistering. E- Brite Ultra Cu-Mg process produces 96 hours on copper nickel chrome parts and as a base plate underneath electroless nickel achieved 400 hours salt spray!

Read our technical paper about High Corrosion Resistant Plating on Magnesium Substrates.

E-Brite Ultra Cu-Mg produces a denser copper plate than cyanide copper process, plus it is used at a pH of 9.5- 9.8, while cyanide copper is used at 10.4- 11.0. Electroless nickel is another process that can plate on magnesium castings resulting in good adhesion and okay corrosion protection. The E-Brite Ultra Cu-Mg will produce a superior copper, nickel and chrome plate, while saving the plater money as it costs less to use then electroless nickel.

Copper Plating Process Steps

1. Polish AZ 91 to a high luster using magnesium buffing compound
2. Vapor Degrease
3. Soak Clean E-Kleen 148-E 10% by volume, 140 F, 3-5 minutes
4. Rinse
5. E-Pik 241 30% by volume, 70F, 2 minutes
6. Rinse
7. E-Prep 284 zincate 100% by volume, 160-170F, 5-7 minutes
8. Rinse
9. E-Brite Ultra Cu- Mg 40% by volume ,120-130F, 20-40 minutes
10. Process through acid copper nickel and chrome process