Following is a Plating Troubleshooting Guide. First, click on the type of bath you are using, and then click on the problem(s) you are having. This will give you a list of possible causes.

ALKALINE NON-CYANIDE

Overall Dullness
HCD Burning
Dull LCD
Mottled or Blotchy Deposit
Roughness
Brittle Deposits
Pitting
Blistering or Poor Adhesion
Poor Throw
No Plate
Poor Efficiency
Post-Plate Staining
Post-Storage Staining
Falling Zinc Level
Rising Zinc Level
High Additive Consumption

Overall dullness of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Low Brightener or Low Starter (Carrier)
• High Zinc Metal Concentration
• Bath Contamination
• Poor Water Quality
• High or Low Temperature
• Poor Cleaning
• Electrical Problems
• Poor Filtration

HCD Burning of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Low Temperature
• High or Low Zinc Metal Concentration
• Low Starter (Carrier)
• Low Caustic Concentration
• Parts too close to Anodes
• Excessive Current
• Low Brightener
• Current too High in Electrocleaner

Dull LCD of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Low Brightener
• Low Purifier
• High or Low Temperature
• Poor Filtration
• Low Caustic Concentration
• Bath Contamination
• Improper Pickling
• Sulfide Contamination

Mottled or Blotchy Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Poor Cleaning
• Excessive Water Hardness

Roughness of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Poor Filtration
• High Current
• Low Carrier Concentration
• Low Anode Area
• Magnetized Particles
• Copper in Pickle

Brittle Deposits of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• High Brightener
• Bath Contamination
• Low Carrier Concentration

Pitting of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• High Brightener
• Bath Contamination
• Poor Filtration

Blisters or Poor Adhesion of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Low Temperature
• Poor Cleaning
• Organic Contamination
• Chromium Contamination
• High Brightener
• Low Starter (Carrier)
• Metallurgical Characteristics
• Low Caustic Concentration
• Copper in Pickle
• Current Interruptions

Poor Throw in an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Solution could be an indication of:

• Low Carrier Concentration
• High Zinc
• Low Anode Area
• Low Current
• High or Low Temperature
• Poor Cleaning
• Low Caustic Concentration
• Low Brightener
• Metallurgical Characteristics
• Inadequate Agitation

No Plate from an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Solution could be an indication of:

• Electrical Problems
• Over Pickling
• Metallurgical Characteristics
• Low Temperature
• Chromium Contamination
• High Voltage (Barrel Plating)

Poor Efficiency of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Solution could be an indication of:

• Low Zinc
• High Carrier
• High Caustic
• Electrical Problems
• Low Anode Area
• Low Temperature
• High Brightener
• Bath Contamination

Post-Plate Staining of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Insufficient Rinsing
• Rinses Contaminated
• Bright Dip Contaminated
• Excessive Dwell Time between the Plating tank and the
• Chromate tank
• Metallic Contamination

Post-Storage Staining of an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Deposit could be an indication of:

• Insufficient Rinsing
• Improper Passivation
• Poor Drying and Handling
• Corrosive Environment
• Metallic Contamination

Falling Zinc Level in an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Solution could be an indication of:

• Anodes Polarized
• Low Anode Area
• Improper Steel to Zinc Ratio in Generator Tank
• Poor or No Solution Movement in Generator Tank
• Titanium Baskets in the Circuit

Rising Zinc Level in an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Solution could be an indication of:

• Too Much Anode Area
• High Caustic Concentration

High Additive Consumption in an Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Solution could be an indication of:

• Organic Contamination
• High Temperature
• Incompatible cleaners
• High Drag-In, Drag-Out