Reduction of additive consumption through mechanical barrier
Anodes with shielding
During electrochemical processes, organic bath additives are oxidized on the active layer of the anode (image on the left). The additive consumption and associated replenishment costs increase. The resulting oxidation products contaminate and partially destroy the functionality of the baths – resulting in a short bath life.
Schematically represented (image on the right), it consists of a base material, an active layer, and the shielding. The base material is usually titanium, the active layer consists of a mixed oxide layer or platinum. The shielding is a grid structure made of fine plastic and/or titanium directly connected to the anode.
Image on the left: Oxidation of the additive when encountering an insoluble anode without shielding
Image on the right: Insoluble anode with shielding
The shielding positively influences the processes at the anode
A solution can be the shielded anode – a special anode developed by METAKEM with significant advantages:
Image 3: Brightener consumption in acidic copper bath
Image 3 shows the use of a “shielded anode” in a copper bath in the printed circuit board industry – here, the additive consumption was reduced in half, with reverse pulse and to one-third with direct current.
In addition to dimensionally stable anodes, sheets and expanded metals made of nickel, soluble anodes, and titanium anode baskets are also generally shielded.
Request, test, or get more information about shielded anodes:
Contact us and discuss your specific application with us. We are happy to advise you and – upon request – provide you with sample anodes for your own experiments.
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