Markus Zingg wrote:
> Hi Adam
>
>
>>What small copper wires are you talking about ?
>
>
> Good question :) That's what someone told me they are used for. Well,
> I used the station during some runs without those bags and could not
> see a difference in the results. There are also no visible wires or
> such, so maybe they surf another purpose - hell, most likely the one
> you describe.
>
> I also use brigthner and the anodes also became this dark "patina"
> which I was told is good/important for the process. I do have the bags
> mounted and since I have them I never felt motivated to try without.
> Might be that I under estimate their effect. I must say though that I
> don't use air agitation in my tanks.
>
The brightener data sheet describes the optimum color for
anodes and black to very dark brown. If red or pink then it
means something is out of balance. Oh, one more thing, this
dark film only forms on phosphorized copper anodes (copper
with 0.05% phosphorous). Without the phosphor there is no
film and the anodes dissolve in such a way they release
copper powder in the solution. I think its the additives
that are mostly responsible for making the copper anodes
dissolve this way. I know from early experiments copper
plating with a low acid high copper plating solution (75g/L
H2S04, 200g/L CuSO4.5H20) without additives and pure copper
anodes then the anodes dissolve reasonable cleanly.
A beginner might like to use that bath instead because no
brightener or phosophorized anodes are needed. Problem with
this bath is that plating uniformity is extremely sensitive
to your anode configuration. Also you can only plate to
about 100 um before copper "noodles" start forming.