Features of galvanic treatments of the Electroforming with copperDue to its excellent electrical conductivity, the copper finds applications in the electroforming process for the realization of complex shape waveguides, difficult to achieve mechanically. The process is carried out electrolytically depositing a pure copper layer on a shape (mandrel), normally in aluminum, which faithfully reproduces the internal shape of the object that must be obtained: the thickness may be of the order of about 1-3mm. At the end the mandrel is dissolved with a suitable solution and the object obtained, all copper, is mechanically finished on the outside and can be assembled with other parts (for example Flanges), and be subjected to a protective galvanic treatment, type tin, silver, gold… The process allows obtaining functional layers, gold type, with controlled thickness, which are guaranteed in the inner parts of the waveguides without resorting to the application of additional electrodes (anodes): in fact the gold plating can be applied directly on the aluminum mandrel before proceeding with copper plating thickness. |
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