White Bronze Electrolyte – Bright Bronze Plating as a Nickel Alternative
€25.00
Available, delivery time: 1-2 days
Product information "White Bronze Electrolyte – Bright Bronze Plating as a Nickel Alternative"
White Bronze Electrolyte – Bright Bronze Plating as a Nickel Alternative
Bright, Hard and Durable White Bronze Electroplating
The White Bronze Electrolyte SW10011.1 from Betzmann Galvanik enables the electroplating of a bright, silvery-white bronze alloy onto suitable electrically conductive metal surfaces.
White bronze is particularly suitable as a nickel-free alternative to conventional nickel plating when a bright, hard and wear-resistant surface is required. It can also be used as an intermediate or barrier layer between copper/bronze and a subsequent gold plating.
The electrolyte is prepared by mixing the White Bronze component with an alkaline copper electrolyte in a 1:1 ratio.
Your Advantages at a Glance
- Bright, silvery white bronze finish
- Nickel-free alternative to conventional nickel plating
- Very fast deposition
- High deposition rate
- High hardness
- Good corrosion resistance
- Good abrasion and wear resistance
- Antimicrobial properties
- Excellent as an intermediate layer before gold plating
- Suitable for decorative and functional applications
- Suitable for tank plating and pen/brush plating
- Suitable for various conductive metal surfaces
What Is White Bronze?
White bronze is an electroplated bronze alloy with a bright, silvery-metallic appearance.
The resulting surface can visually resemble a light nickel coating while offering the advantage of being nickel-free.
White bronze is therefore particularly interesting for applications where a bright nickel-free surface is required, including decorative metal components, jewellery and other suitable applications.
Preparing the White Bronze Electrolyte
The White Bronze electrolyte is prepared by combining the White Bronze component with a suitable alkaline copper electrolyte.
Mixing Ratio
1 part White Bronze component : 1 part alkaline copper electrolyte
Mix both components thoroughly before use.
Important: This product is not a conventional ready-to-use copper electrolyte. It is used together with a suitable alkaline copper electrolyte to produce the White Bronze plating bath.
How to Apply White Bronze Electroplating
-
Prepare the electrolyte
Mix the White Bronze component and alkaline copper electrolyte in a 1:1 ratio. -
Prepare the workpiece
Thoroughly clean, degrease and activate the surface according to the base material. -
Electrical connection
Connect the workpiece as the cathode (negative pole). -
Electroplating
Apply the appropriate DC current to deposit the White Bronze alloy. -
Rinsing
Thoroughly rinse the workpiece after plating and dry it carefully.
Applications
White bronze can be used for a wide range of decorative and technical applications.
Particularly suitable for:
- Jewellery
- Decorative metal components
- Accessories
- Metal fittings
- Technical components
- Restoration
- Repair plating
- Intermediate and barrier layers
- Underlayers before gold plating
- Applications where nickel should be avoided
White Bronze as a Nickel Alternative
One of the key applications is the use of white bronze as a nickel alternative.
The deposited layer provides a bright metallic appearance combined with high hardness and good wear resistance, making it an interesting alternative where a bright nickel-like appearance is desired without depositing nickel.
For jewellery and suitable objects that come into contact with skin, a nickel-free coating can be advantageous.
White Bronze as an Intermediate Layer Before Gold
White bronze can also be used as an intermediate or barrier layer between copper/bronze and gold.
A typical coating structure can be:
Base Material → Copper → White Bronze → Gold
The White Bronze layer provides a functional intermediate layer while also creating a bright and attractive surface beneath the final gold coating.
Recommended Electrodes
For electroplating, graphite or platinum anodes are recommended.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product | White Bronze Electrolyte |
| Product number | SW10011.1 |
| Mixing ratio | 1:1 with alkaline copper electrolyte |
| Voltage | 3.2–3.5 V |
| Minimum voltage | approx. 3 V |
| Operating temperature | 18–25 °C |
| Optimum temperature | approx. 22 °C |
| Anodes | Graphite or platinum |
| Coating colour | Bright bronze / silvery bronze |
| Typical hardness | 450–500 HV |
| Deposit density | approx. 8.6–8.8 g/cm³ |
| Typical alloy composition | approx. 42% copper / 58% tin |
| Deposition rate | approx. 0.7–1.5 µm/min, depending on process parameters |
| Application | Tank plating, brush/pen plating |
The values above are guideline values and may vary depending on the workpiece, electrolyte preparation, current density, agitation and other process parameters.
Storage
The White Bronze electrolyte and prepared solution are sensitive to air exposure.
Therefore:
- Keep the container tightly closed
- Minimize unnecessary exposure to air
- Store in a cool place
- For the prepared solution, storage at approximately 2–5 °C is recommended
- Shelf life of the prepared solution under suitable storage conditions: approximately 4 weeks
Important Tips for Optimal Results
Thorough surface preparation is essential for a high-quality White Bronze coating.
The workpiece should generally be:
Cleaned → Degreased → Activated → Electroplated
During electroplating, uniform movement of the electrolyte can help achieve a more homogeneous deposit.
Safety Information
When working with electroplating electrolytes, always:
- Wear suitable protective gloves
- Wear safety goggles
- Wear appropriate protective clothing
- Avoid skin and eye contact
- Work only in well-ventilated areas
- Do not ingest
- Keep out of reach of children
- Dispose of chemical residues and spent electrolytes according to applicable regulations
Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use.
Conclusion
The White Bronze Electrolyte SW10011.1 is a versatile solution for producing bright, hard and wear-resistant White Bronze coatings.
It is particularly interesting as a nickel-free alternative to nickel, for decorative and functional applications and as an intermediate/barrier layer between copper or bronze and gold.
When combined with a suitable alkaline copper electrolyte in a 1:1 mixing ratio, it provides an effective system for fast White Bronze electroplating.
Signal word: Warning
Hazard statement(s).
H316 Causes mild skin irritation.
H320 Causes eye irritation.
H335 May cause respiratory irritation.
Precautionary statement(s)
P261 Avoid breathing dust/ fume/ gas/ mist/ vapours/spray.
P305 + P351 + P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.