Acid Bright Fast Plating Hard Copper Technology (I)

The development of the acid bright and fast electroplating hard copper technology relies on the progress of the gravure plate making technology. The electronic engraving and gravure plate making requires relatively strict quality requirements for the plating layer, and it needs not only moderate hardness, but also good flatness and lightness. In addition, considering the production costs and production efficiency issues, special additives must be used in production and the process parameters must be strictly controlled.

Acid Bright Fast Plating Hard Copper Process

At present, most domestic and foreign gravure plated hard copper plating processes use sulfated copper plating. This process is simple in composition, low in cost, and easy to control. At present, the domestic rapid electroplating hard copper process is almost the same, nothing different than the additives used. At present, there are commonly used domestic COSMO-G additives of Japan Daiwa, Japan Yonghui KY additive, 』type additive of Shenzhen Huatianzi Company, CUFLEX-40 additive of Atotech, AM type of Swedish AM company and some plate making Enterprise-made additives, the use of these additives is basically the same.

1. Process Specifications The process specifications are shown in Table 1.

2. Operating conditions Operating conditions are shown in Table 2.

3. Quality Requirements The following are the main requirements for the quality of the fast electroplated hard copper layer.

(1) Hardness. The hardness is generally controlled at 180-240HV, the hardness is low, the copper layer is too soft, and the mesh type of the electric carving net hole is difficult to maintain, resulting in color reproduction distortion and affecting the service life of the plate cylinder. The hard copper layer shortens the life of the electronic engraving needle and even breaks the needle.

(2) Flatness. Good flatness can reduce the amount of copper layer processing, reduce surface defects, reduce the quality of hidden dangers and raw material consumption.

(3) Brightness. Brightness is an important indicator of the quality of the copper layer and is a reflection of the crystal structure of the copper layer. High brightness, crystal refinement, uniform hardness of the copper layer, long retention time, good copper layer toughness, and low porosity, help to extend the service life of the electric engraving needle and improve the quality of electric engraving.