Automatic electrochemical process control for electroplating baths

摘要

Metal ion concentration and pH value are two parameters which are readily determinable in currently available automatic process controllers for plating baths. By contrast, analysis for the amounts of organic additives present is either extremelydifficult or not possible using the resources available, and in terms of on-line analysis is in most cases impracticable. Using a newly developed electroanalytical technique, on-line analysis of organics, and thus their automated process control, is nowpossible. The basis of the new method is in recording and interpretation of cyclic voltammetric scans, using PG-controlled software. An example of the application of the method is provided, used for an alkaline non-cyanide zinc plating electrolyte.