With the strongly acidic alloy electrolyte PLATUNA®-Alloy RU, smooth, shiny and crack-free platinum-ruthenium coatings can be deposited up to a layer thickness of 0.5 μm. The deposited coatings...
Cost-saving electrolyte for brilliant jewelry
With the strongly acidic alloy electrolyte PLATUNA®-Alloy RU, smooth, shiny and crack-free platinum-ruthenium coatings can be deposited up to a layer thickness of 0.5 μm. The deposited coatings are characterized by brilliant gloss and, in contrast to conventional platinum coatings, do not exhibit a yellow tint.
The advantage of the electrolyte is mainly the cost saving due to the ruthenium content. This is because ruthenium is still the cheapest metal among the platinum group metals. Furthermore, the electrolyte has a low sulfuric acid content and is therefore less aggressive to the coating substrate. The deposition rate is independent of the current density, which leads to an optimum layer thickness distribution. No precipitation occurs and the platinum concentrate does not have to be stored in the refrigerator.
Electrolytes Characteristics
| Electrolyte type | Strongly acidic |
| Metal content | 1.0 (0.8 - 1.2) g/l Pt, 1.0 (0.8 - 1.2) g/l Ru |
| pH value | < 1 |
| Operating temperature | 60 (55 - 65) °C |
| Current density range | 3 (0.5 - 10) A/dm² |
| Plating speed | approx. 0.06 μm/min at 3 A/dm² |
| Deposition rate | approx. 4 mg/Amin at 3 A/dm² |
Coating Characteristics
| Coating | Platinum ruthenium |
| Alloy composition | approx. 80 % Pt, approx. 20 % Ru |
| Colour of deposit | White |
| Brightness | Bright, brilliant |
| Hardness | not measurable, approx. 500 HV |
| Max. coating thickness | approx. 0.5 μm |
| Density of the coating | approx. 18.7 g/cm³ |
Advantages
- Excellent brightness without yellow tint
- Longer durability
- High abrasion resistance
- Current density independent
- Easy handling - no cold storage and no precipitation
Applications
- Jewelry
- Watches
- Writing implements
- Spectacles frames
- Bathroom fittings
