Gravure plate plating process optimization (2)

Analysis of influencing factors

1. Impact on Nickel Plating, Copper Plating, Chrome Plating, and Chromium Removal Processes

At present, the nickel plating process of the Plate making plants is basically sulphated nickel-plated. If the process is changed to semi-bright nickel sulphate plating, it is only necessary to add some primary brighteners and flexible agents on the basis of the original process. The excessive cost of reformulating the plating solution. The copper plating, chrome plating, and the chromium removal process can maintain the original process and do not need to be changed. Because of the corrosion resistance of the electroplating process is better than the traditional process, even the chrome plating time is shortened appropriately. The lattice structure of the nickel plated layer is similar to that of copper and chromium, and the bonding force is not a problem. However, because a layer of semi-bright nickel is added between the copper and chromium layers, the brightness of the chrome plating layer is slightly reduced. , But the chromium layer will not affect the appearance of the platen after polishing. The semi-bright nickel layer is a matte coating. If a bright nickel layer is used, it will not affect the brightness of the chromium layer, but the internal stress of the bright nickel layer is large, and the bonding force will be reduced. The electrochemical chromium removal process does not corrode the nickel layer. If chromium plating is required after the chromium removal, it can be properly activated.

2. Impact on existing equipment

It has already been mentioned above that only the dark nickel plating process should be changed to the semi-bright nickel plating process. The entire plating process will undergo some changes. That is, instead of directly performing chrome plating after electroforming, a layer of semi-bright nickel plating is first applied to the nickel plating tank. Layers are then chromed so there is no need to add any equipment.

3. Increase in production costs

The increase in production costs is mainly concentrated in the following three areas.

(1) The cost of the primary brighteners and pliants added to the nickel-sulfate-plated dark nickels and the supplemental costs of the additives.
(2) The cost of nickel plating twice will double the consumption of nickel plates.
(3) The consumption of electric energy by double nickel plating will double.

The above three aspects of the increase in the cost are mainly concentrated in the first two, although the cost has risen, but the amount is not large, the general plate plant can accept, the key is to be able to greatly improve the service life of the version of the drum.

Conclusion

The electroplating production process has been verified by a large number of experiments, and the electroplating workload will not increase too much; the appearance of the plate cylinder will be almost no different from the traditional process; the plate cylinder will be deinked or cut in the environment where the humidity is 90%. The time is more than twice as long as the production plate of the traditional electroplating process; after detecting the process of chrome plating on the net value, it is found that there is basically no change, and the situation after polishing is similar to that of a traditional process cabinet; the experiment also shows that copper, Nickel and chromium three kinds of coatings have good binding force, no peeling, bubbling, and chrome explosions have been found; the experiment of electrochromic chromium removal and chrome plating has not found any problems, but attention should be paid to the activation before chrome plating; Through the use of customers, there is no adverse effect on the print quality.

Due to the lack of comprehensive knowledge and practical experience, the author's elaboration of the above electroplating process optimization is inevitably inaccurate or inaccurate. It is for reference only and criticism is welcome.

Author: Wangqing Hao Qingdao Sea Plate Co., Ltd.

Source: "Printing Technology" 2005, 10 (Packing and Decoration Printing)