Scope of this guide
This intermediate guide goes into diagnosis: reading symptoms, isolating the variable that changed, and fixing it with data you can collect on the line.
Process: Gold & Precious Plating. Figures in this guide are industry-standard starting ranges; confirm against your supplier TDS before locking settings.
Working ranges and control points
The table below is the daily reference for a gold bath. Set by the card, verify by the control point column.
| Parameter | Typical range | Control point | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath temperature | 55–65 °C (hard gold) | Thermostat 2× per shift | Cold bath dulls colour |
| Current density | 0.5–1.5 A/dm² | Coulomb counter per rack | High CD gives brittle deposit |
| Gold content | 6–10 g/L as metal | Spectro weekly | Low metal raises resistance |
| Thickness spec | 0.1–0.5 µm decorative; 0.8–1.5 µm wear | XRF per batch | Thin flash wears through |
| Contamination limit | Ni < 20 mg/L, Cu < 10 mg/L | Hull cell check | Drag-in darkens colour |
Diagnose It Fast: the intermediate view
Beyond the basic card, this is the layer that matters at your level:
| Symptom | Likely variable | Confirm by | First fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dull or hazy finish | Bath chemistry drift | Hull cell panel | Rebalance per test |
| Defects cluster on one rack position | Contact or current map | Position thickness map | Repair contact / re-map amps |
| Good-bad-good pattern | Loading or cycle drift | Time-stamped samples | Standardise load weight |
| Defect appears after maintenance | Work just done | Revert one change | Restore and re-verify |
Standard routine
- Pre-plate nickel barrier before gold on zinc alloys
- Rinse thoroughly — soaps poison gold baths
- Weigh racks before and after to estimate deposit
- XRF-check three points per batch
- Return gold-bearing rinse to recovery column
Engineer notes
- Colour drift is usually contamination or low metal, not temperature alone
- Coulomb counting beats time-based dosing for thickness control
- Hard gold for sliding contacts; pure gold for solderability
- Keep a dedicated rinse after nickel to protect the gold bath
- Audit gold salt inventory monthly — losses show up in rinse recovery
Safety: Gold baths contain cyanide complexes. Never mix with acid, keep pH above 8.5, and follow cyanide antidote procedures posted at the tank.
FAQ
Why is my gold pink instead of yellow?
Copper or nickel contamination from drag-in. Run a Hull cell and check purifier capacity.
What thickness do zipper sliders need?
0.2–0.3 µm over a nickel barrier for decorative wear; more for sliding surfaces.
Can I gold-plate directly on zinc diecast?
No — strike copper, then nickel barrier, then gold; otherwise zinc diffuses and tarnishes.