If I were you I'd first get a good copper plating apparatus setup.
Acetic is a terrible electrolyte for plating (I assume you have copper
acetate in there to carry the copper ions !!). For now, use standard
acid copper plating recipes, not special PCB formulations as they
require a bit more control. You'll have to check in references, but I
think a good start will be;
140-180 g/l copper sulfate pentahydrate.
40-60 g/l sulfuric acid.
also see
http://www.pfonline.com/articles/pfd0014.htmlOnce you can copper plate onto copper successfully then do your
experiments with the carbon holes.
I got most of my chemicals for experimenting by contacting the
chemical suppliers and asking for free samples. I have probably done
this for 5 or 6 different products. The cheap and common chemicals are
usually not available as free samples. 98% Sulfuric is dirt cheap, so
just buy 10 liters (18kg) and be done with it.
dsv1486 wrote:
> Ok I have just joined this group and was reading the various topics.
> One that has intrigued me was the plating through the circuit board
> hole method using carbon. I have wanted to do this for quite some
> time. I have experimented with a graphite spray that sells at
> Canadian tire, (I live in Edmonton Alberta Canada). I would pre drill
> the CB and then basically spray a puddle on the board and use a
> squeegee to fill all of the holes. Then use an air knife to clear the
> holes leaving a residue. Then let dry and sand the leftover graphite
> from the board. I would then electroplate with acetic acid (vinegar).
> However the issue was the length of time to plate. The graphite was
> suspended in a weak binder, perhaps a urethane or other type
> of "plastic coating". It seemed that only long times in the acetic
> acid bath would allow plating of copper onto the graphite. I am
> thinking that I should have used a strong sulfuric or hydrochloric to
> break down the surface layer and then plate. However I have not tried
> this yet. The carbon method mentioned here in the files section seems
> better so I would like to know, can I use crushed carbon for this
> method or perhaps using a candle's carbon to coat the holes as it is
> very difficult to get chemicals here in small quantities. Does anyone
> have any ideas as to how this could be done simply? I know it is a
> complex process using palladium or the other ones mentioned, hoverer
> I have the time to use a slow process and it would only be for hobby
> purposes.
>
>