The optimum conditions for electroplating zinc from its fluoborate solution have been deduced by a systematic study of the effects of all types of variables on its plating characteristics. The best deposits of zinc are obtained from a bath containing 180 g/l of zinc fluoborate, 30 g/l of ammonium fluoborate, 25 g/l of boric acid, and 1.0 g/l of beta naphthol at a pH of 5.0 to 5.4 and temperatures of 20°–30°C, and at current densities of 4.3 to 9.7 amp/dm2 (40 to 90 amp/ft2). The deposits which are obtained on steel, brass, or copper are uniform, fine grained, adherent, and of pleasing appearance. The current efficiency of the process approximates 98 to 100 per cent cathodic and 102 to 105 per cent anodic. The bath is nonpoisonous, stable, and easily controlled. The new bath is comparable to the zinc cyanide bath, and is vastly superior to the zinc sulfate bath.
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