Ione Exchange Plating

When steel wire is submerged in a solution of copper sulphate CuSO4 sulphuricacid H2SO4 and water the surface ions on the iron Fe steel wire surface will go into solution. As this happens the steel wire will get slightly negatively charged and attract a positively charged copper Cu ion. Hence the process name ione exchange plating. The process is commonly used in the production of copper coated MIG welding wire and office staples. It is imperative that the wire surface is clean prior to entering the plating solution. The Fig below shows the princip of an continous plating line.

In line cleaning and plating line

Plating tank courtesey of Welding Wire Machineries s.r.l.

Plating tank courtesey of Outokumpu WTT AB