In the manufacturing and craftsmanship industries, choosing a high-quality gold plating solution is crucial to ensure durability, aesthetics, and cost-efficiency. One of the most trusted electroplating solutions for copper gold plating is Auruna® 502. This is a neutral copper-gold electroplating solution that is cadmium-free, delivering bright red-colored copper-gold plating with high hardness and superior wear resistance. In the following article, PMAC will introduce in detail the Auruna® 502 gold plating solution, its outstanding advantages, and its practical applications.
1. Composition and Ingredients of Auruna® 502 Solution
Auruna® 502 is a neutral copper-gold electroplating solution that is cadmium-free and especially suitable for gold plating applications that are both cost-effective and safe for users. This solution operates without the need for free cyanide, producing copper-gold plating with a bright red color, high hardness, and excellent wear resistance.
The key components of the Auruna® 502 electroplating solution include:
- Metal Content: 3.5 – 4.5 g/l Au (gold), 2.5 – 3.5 g/l Cu (copper).
- pH: 7.2 – 8.0. The neutral pH ensures stable operation without causing corrosion or damage to the surface of materials.
- Temperature: 55 – 60°C. This temperature ensures effective and stable electroplating.
- Current Density: 0.3 – 0.8 A/dm². This is the ideal current density for achieving the desired thickness and quality of the copper-gold plating.
- Plating Speed: Approximately 0.15 μm/min at 0.5 A/dm², allowing for quick and efficient plating.
- Anode Material: Pt-Ti (PLATINODE® Pt/Ti). This material enhances the durability of the plating system and ensures uniform gold plating.
2. Advantages of Auruna® 502 Gold Plating Solution
The Auruna® 502 gold plating solution is highly valued for its notable advantages, making it suitable for a variety of applications in the manufacturing and craftsmanship sectors.
2.1 Gold Savings
With an alloy composition of 75% Au and 25% Cu, Auruna® 502 allows for gold savings while still maintaining the beauty and quality of the plating. The solution creates a gold plating with a karat equivalent of approximately 18K, significantly reducing gold costs compared to traditional gold plating solutions. Although the plating is of lower karat, it still offers excellent aesthetics and quality. This is especially useful in jewelry production or for products where material savings are important.
2.2 Cadmium-Free
Auruna® 502 is cadmium-free, making it a safer choice for human health and the environment. This is a key factor that makes this solution an excellent choice for applications requiring sustainability and safety, such as jewelry, accessories, or electronic devices.
2.3 Wear and Tarnish Resistance
One of the greatest advantages of Auruna® 502 is its wear and tarnish resistance. Thanks to its high hardness (380 – 400 HV), the copper-gold plating can withstand physical impacts, helping to maintain a long-lasting shine and protecting the surface from tarnishing over time.
2.4 High Hardness
Auruna® 502 produces a plating with high hardness (380 – 400 HV), enhancing wear resistance. This is particularly important for applications such as sliding electrical contacts, where high durability and load-bearing capacity are required.
2.5 Suitable for Multiple Applications
The copper-gold plating produced by Auruna® 502 has a bright red color, providing a luxurious and sophisticated look for plated products. Auruna® 502 is suitable not only for decorative applications but also for technical applications that require high durability. Products plated with Auruna® 502 can be used in various fields such as jewelry, watches, accessories, bathroom equipment, lighting fixtures, eyeglass frames, and writing tools.
3. Applications of Auruna® 502 Gold Plating Solution
Auruna® 502 can be applied in many fields, particularly for products that require a combination of aesthetics and high durability.
3.1 Jewelry
Auruna® 502 is an ideal choice for gold plating jewelry items. The bright red gold plating, high hardness, and tarnish resistance ensure that jewelry retains its beauty for a long time.
3.2 Watches
With its ability to create bright copper-gold plating, Auruna® 502 is perfect for plating watch components, offering high aesthetic value and outstanding durability.
3.3 Fashion Accessories
Fashion accessories such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings can also be plated with Auruna® 502, creating visually striking and high-quality products.
3.4 Bathroom Equipment
Auruna® 502 can be used for plating bathroom equipment such as shower heads, door handles, and other metal accessories, providing a luxurious finish and high durability.
3.5 Eyeglass Frames
For eyeglass frames, the Auruna® 502 solution helps create attractive, long-lasting, and scratch-resistant plating, offering both comfort and aesthetics for the wearer.
Conclusion
Auruna® 502 is a neutral copper-gold electroplating solution with many outstanding advantages, from gold savings to producing beautiful, durable, and safe plating. With its diverse applications in jewelry, watches, accessories, and technical products, this solution is an excellent choice for those seeking high-quality, cost-effective, and sustainable gold plating solutions. Contact PMAC today to receive special offers and a quote for the Auruna 502 gold plating solution!
