Electroplating is a process in which metallic ions are transferred from a piece of metal to another object. The metallic piece and object being coated with ions are connected to electrical charges and placed in a solution that helps facilitate the transfer. Once the electroplating process is complete, the object will have a physical appearance similar to that of the metallic piece. When nickel-electroplating cast iron, special procedures must be followed to ensure that the process is completed correctly.
Instructions
1. Purchase copper conductive paint and nickel-plating solution from an online electroplating retailer or your local arts and crafts retailer.
2. Put on gloves and goggles to prevent incidental eye or skin contact.
3. Coat the cast iron evenly with the copper conductive paint. Cast iron is porous and will absorb most of the nickel-plating solution; this will inhibit the electroplating process. The conductive paint will seal such pores and facilitate the nickel-electroplating process.
4. Pour the nickel-plating solution into the beaker. The amount of solution used should be enough to fully submerge the cast iron, and the beaker should be large enough to accommodate both the cast iron piece and the nickel piece being electroplated onto the cast iron piece.
5. Connect the positively charged alligator clip to the nickel piece and the negatively charged alligator clip to the cast iron piece, and put the pieces into the solution. Ensure that the pieces and alligator clips are not touching. If the metals are touching, staining can occur and cause the cast iron to appear smeared or darkened; if the alligator clips touch, the wall adapter can short out. Insert the wall adapter into the power outlet.
6. Allow both pieces to remain submerged until cast iron piece assumes the physical coloration and characteristics of the nickel piece. This process can be monitored by looking through the beaker or occasionally removing the cast iron piece from the solution for a visual inspection.
Tags: cast iron, cast iron piece, iron piece, conductive paint, nickel piece
