Electroplating lead on fluorocarbon polymer parts is accomplished by etching the parts to be plated with sodium, followed by successive depositions of silver and lead from ultrasonically agitated plating solutions. Metals other than lead may be electroplated on the silvered parts

Ford, H.

Krasinsky, J. B.

Vango, S. P.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

October 1964	 Brief 63-10612 
NASA TECH BRIEF	
-a 
This NASA Tech Brief is issued by the Technology Utilization Division to acquaint 
industry with the technical content of an innovation derived from the space program. 
Metals Plated on Fluorocarbon Polymers 
The problem: Electroplating lead on fluorocarbon 
polymer (polytetrafluoroethylene) parts. Metals can-
not be plated directly onto the surface of a fluoro-
carbon polymer. 
The solution: Etching of the parts with sodium 
followed by successive depositions of silver and lead 
from ultrasonically agitated plating solutions. 
How it's done: The parts are first cleaned in 
acetone, preferably with the aid of ultrasonic agitation. 
After masking portions not to be plated, the cleaned 
parts are immersed in an ultrasonically agitated 
organic solution of a sodium complex (which releases 
sodium when in contact with fluorocarbons) for a few 
minutes. The parts are periodically removed from the 
etching bath and inspected for satisfactory etch, as 
indicated by a uniform tan color on all exposed sur-
faces. After etching is completed, the parts are re-
moved from the solution and rinsed with water. All 
masking tape is then removed, and the parts are suc-
cessively washed under ultrasonic agitation in 10% 
sulfuric acid, distilled water, acetone, benzene, and 
again in acetone, and finally dried in an oven at 
100°C. 
The dried parts are silvered using Brashear's process 
(silver deposition from ammoniacal solution) with 
ultrasonic agitation of the solution. The silvering 
operation is preferably performed three times in order 
to ensure a satisfactory layer for electrodeposition of 
the lead. Silver deposited on unetched portions of the 
parts is easily rubbed off.
Lead is then plated onto the silvered surfaces from 
an ultrasonically agitated lead fluoborate bath. When 
a sufficiently thick coating has been deposited, the 
parts are removed, washed in water, and dried in an 
oven at 100°C. The lead plating may then be 
burnished to a smooth shiny surface; the burnishing 
and plating may be repeated as necessary to produce 
a uniform, pit-free surface. 
Notes: 
I. Metals other than lead may be electroplated on the 
silvered fluorocarbon parts. The metal plating can 
serve as an electrical conductor and permits bond-
ing of the fluorocarbon polymer parts by soldering. 
2. The lead coating is particularly impermeable, to 
nitrogen tetroxide and other strong oxidizing 
agents. 
3. Inquiries concerning this invention may be directed 
to.	 Technology Utilization Officer 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California, 91103 
Reference: B63-10612 
Patent status: NASA encourages the immediate 
commercial use of this invention. Inquiries about 
obtaining rights for its commercial use may be made 
to NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., 20546. 
Source: Stephen P. Vango, John B. Krasinsky, and 
Hadley Ford (JPL-544) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States Govern-
ment, nor NASA, nor any person acting on behalf of NASA: A. Makes 
any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the 
accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in
this document, or that the use of any information, apparatus, method, 
or process disclosed in this document may not infringe privately-owned 
rights; or B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for 
damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, 
or process disclosed in this document.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19630000126 2020-03-11T16:49:02+00:00Z


Metals plated on fluorocarbon polymers

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