How to read the tables
Four steps from a grade list to a decision
A grade is never good or bad on its own — it is right or wrong for a specific bath, substrate and target. Work through these four steps in order and the shortlist usually falls to two or three grades.
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Fix the process first
Decide the bath system you run before comparing anything. For zinc alone the range covers alkaline cyanide-free, acid and sulfate, cyanide, and ammonium systems — the same "brightener" behaves differently in each.
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Compare role, not just name
Separate the main brightener from the auxiliary additive, the purification agent, the passivation step and the top coat. They are selected against different criteria and are not interchangeable.
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Match the operating window to your line
Bath composition, pH, temperature and cathode current density must sit inside what your tanks, rectifiers and cycle time can actually hold. A grade that analyses better on paper but sits outside your window is not a candidate.
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Confirm with the coating result
Finish on the output: appearance, thickness, hardness and corrosion performance such as salt-spray hours. Where it matters, validate the shortlisted grade on your own workpieces before committing to a bulk order.
Zinc plating
Zinc brighteners and additives — parameters by grade
Zinc is the largest line, spanning four bath systems. Open the table to compare the range on one set of parameters, so that a grade can be judged against the alternatives rather than on its own.
Zinc plating chemicals — parameters by grade 13 grades · 9 parameters each Click to view all contentClick to collapse
Grade
Chemical role
Bath system
Substrate
Rack / barrel
Bath composition & make-up
Temperature
Cathode current density
Coating result / bath effect
Brightener
Alkaline, cyanide-free
Steel
Rack & barrel
Operating limits and replenishment quantities are given for guidance and depend on the parts being plated. Equipment: rubber-lined steel / PP / GFK tanks; nickel-coated steel anodes; filtration at about 2 bath turnovers per hour; carbonate freezing unit required. Agitation: electrolyte 1–2 turnovers/h, parts 2–4 m/min, barrel rotation 3–6 rpm.
On request
On request
Bright deposit over a wide current density range; can be easily chromated or passivated.
Brightener
Alkaline, cyanide-free
Steel
Rack & barrel — best set points for each
Zinc metal 5.5–18.75 g/L; NaOH 75–152 g/L; brightener 12–20 ml/L; low-current-area additive 0.5–2 ml/L; purifier 1 ml/L; water treatment agent 1 ml/L. Best for rack: 11 g/L Zn, 128 g/L NaOH, 16 ml/L brightener. Best for barrel: 13 g/L Zn, 135 g/L NaOH, 18 ml/L brightener.
18–52 °C (best 28 °C)
0.2–6 A/dm² (best 2 A/dm² rack, 1.5 A/dm² barrel)
Bright coating even at 52 °C; coatings up to 25 μm; excellent dispersion in low current density areas for uniform finishes on polygonal deep-concave parts; accepts a variety of post-passivation treatments.
Brightener — high throwing power (polyamine based)
Alkaline, cyanide-free
Steel
Rack & barrel
ZnO 15 g/L; NaOH 100–140 g/L; zinc metal 5.5–18.5 g/L; measured brightener and purifier additions.
Up to 52 °C; bright and decorative surface up to 48 °C
0.5–8 A/dm²; low current density down to 1.5
High throwing power and reliable dispersion; bright, flexible zinc layers; tolerant to contamination from calcium, iron and lead.
Composite additive — brightener and additive
Alkaline, cyanide-free; also low-cyanide
Steel
Rack & barrel
Cyanide-free: ZnO 9–12 g/L, NaOH 100–130 g/L, ZN-100 brightener 4–8 g/L. Low-cyanide: ZnO 7–12 g/L, NaCN 1–8 g/L, NaOH 100–120 g/L, brightener 4–8 g/L. Optional alkaline zinc throwing-power agent. SK:SA 1:1.5–2; anode 0# zinc ingot.
5–40 °C
Rack 0.5–4 A/dm² (cathode movement 8–12 times/min); barrel 0.5–3 A/dm² (roller 6–8 times/min)
Bright, compact, uniform layer with good adhesion and levelling; colourful after chromate conversion; no aldehyde or chelate, easy waste-water disposal.
Brightener
Acid, sulfate
Steel wire
Wire line — continuous
ZnSO₄·7H₂O 350–450 g/L (best 450); H₃BO₃ 25–35 g/L (best 30); SZ-30B brightener 20–30 ml/L (best 25); pH 2.5–3.5 (best 3.0); anode 0# zinc ingot.
10–50 °C (best 15–35 °C)
Wire-line intensity per rod: φ≤1 mm 20–80 A; φ≤2.5 mm 120–350 A; φ≤5 mm 200–500 A. Cathode current efficiency >95%.
On request
Additive — stable performance
Acid, sulfate
Steel wire
Wire line — continuous
ZnSO₄·7H₂O 300–450 g/L; H₃BO₃ 20–30 g/L; SZ-30A brightener 14–18 ml/L; pH 3.0–4.5; anode 0# zinc ingot.
10–50 °C
Wire φ≤1 mm: 5–8 m plated at 10–30 m/min, 20–80 A. φ≤2.5 mm: 10–16 m at 7–20 m/min, 120–350 A. φ≤5 mm: 8–12 m at 5–10 m/min, 200–500 A. Efficiency >95%.
On request
Brightener — wire-type galvanising
Acid, sulfate
General steel, mid and high-carbon steel wire
Wire line — continuous
Make-up: dissolve ZnSO₄·7H₂O in warm water, remove the sediment, then add SZ-75 additive and the bath make-up agent, stir and filter before use. Analyse the solution periodically, or check the Baumé degree.
Wide temperature range
Wire φ≤1.5 mm: plated length 16–20 m, running speed 10–30 m/min, 400–600 A per wire
Deposit up to 50–200 g/m²; good bond with steel wire, low brittleness, zinc loss only 2–8% during drawing; good salt resistance, no foam, stable and easy to maintain.
Additive for thin steel sheet
Acid, sulfate
Thin steel sheet
High-speed continuous line
ZnSO₄·7H₂O 300–600 g/L; SZ-88 additive 18–20 ml/L; SZ-88 make-up 25–30 ml/L; pH 2–3.
30–50 °C
70–100 A/dm² at an operating speed of 0.5–2.0 m/s; up to 150 A/dm² as speed and temperature increase
Smooth silver deposit with good adhesion to the coating film; tough and ductile — no cracking or peeling in deep processing of steel.
Fast brightener — economical
Acid, potassium chloride
Steel
Rack & barrel
Potassium chloride electrolyte with zinc chloride and boric acid, formulated to minimise iron contamination. pH 4.5–5.5 for rack plating; 5.0–6.0 for barrel processes.
Wide temperature range
Rack 0.5–5 A/dm²; barrel 0.2–3 A/dm²
Fast brightener activation with deposit uniformity and repeatable plating efficiency for corrosion resistance and surface appearance.
Purification agent
Acid zinc
Steel
/
On request
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Removes iron, copper and some organic impurities from acid zinc baths; selectively settles di- and trivalent iron without zinc; little sediment, high stability, no re-dissolving; prevents passivation-film discolouration and barrel-plating spots.
Additive for the cyanide zinc process
Cyanide zinc (cyanide-free and low-cyanide)
Steel
Rack & barrel
Cyanide-free: ZnO 9–12 g/L, NaOH 100–130 g/L, JZ-1 brightener 4–8 g/L, cyanide antidote 4. Low-cyanide: ZnO 7–12 g/L, NaCN 1–8 g/L, NaOH 100–120 g/L, JZ-1 4–8 g/L, antidote 3–5. SK:SA 1:1.5–2; anode 0# zinc plate.
5–40 °C
Rack 0.5–4 A/dm² (cathode movement 8–12 times/min); barrel 0.5–3 A/dm² (rotation 6–8 times/min)
Process flow: degrease → hot rinse → derust → activate (HCl) → plate zinc → recycle → rinse → neutralise (2–3% HNO₃) → passivate → dry and solidify at 60–80 °C.
Brightener for cyanide zinc
Cyanide zinc — low, medium, high and little cyanide
Steel
Barrel (especially suitable) and rack
Low cyanide: ZnO 10–15, NaCN 15–20, NaOH 70–80, Na₂CO₃ 15–20 g/L, Na₂S 0.1–0.3 g/L, Brightener 96 5 ml/L. Medium: ZnO 15–25, NaCN 25–40, NaOH 70–80. High: ZnO 35–45, NaCN 70–90, NaOH 80–100. Little cyanide: ZnO 11–12, NaCN 6–10, NaOH 110–120. Anode 1# pure zinc.
23–43 °C (replenishment reference)
0.2–2 A/dm² gives a wide bright area
Strong throwing power, uniform bright deposit on complex parts; suits low-chrome passivation, cutting Cr(VI) pollution by over 90%; no aldehyde, low consumption in strong alkali. Consumption 100–150 ml/kAh.
Brightener — white brightness and levelling
Ammonium zinc
Steel
On request
NH₄Cl 160–240 g/L; ZnCl₂ 35–65 g/L; CX-2000A 1–1.5 ml/L; CX-2000B 40 ml/L; pH 5.0–6.5.
10–40 °C
0.5–4 A/dm²
Superior white brightness and levelling ability; remarkable throwing power; high coverage ability and high current efficiency; clear, easy-to-maintain bath.
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Other lines
Copper, nickel, chrome, electroless nickel, passivation and coatings
Identify the process step first, then read across the row. Products in this group are used at very different stages, so bath or application data is grouped into one column.
Other plating and finishing products — parameters by grade 9 products · 6 parameters each Click to view all contentClick to collapse
Grade
Chemical role
Process type
Substrate / application
Bath or application data
Result / performance
Brightener — bright acid copper process
Acid copper
Electronic component plating and precision metal finishing
Copper sulfate 200–220 g/L; pure sulfuric acid 55–70 g/L; chloride 100 ppm; FI-97 MU 4–8 ml/L; FI-97 A 0.4–0.6 ml/L; FI-97 B 0.4–0.6 ml/L. Temperature 20–35 °C; cathode current density 1–6 A/dm²; anode current density 0.5–2.5 A/dm²; voltage 1.5–6 V.
High deposit brightness and levelling; stable, buffable copper deposits; deposit ductility for surfaces where mechanical properties matter.
Purification agent — nickel bath
Nickel plating — bath maintenance
Bright nickel plating lines
Added directly to the nickel bath and stirred, without stopping production. Dose 1–2 ml/L when the bath contains Cu²⁺ 40 mg/L, Zn²⁺ 40 mg/L, Fe²⁺ + Fe³⁺ 120 mg/L or Cr³⁺ 60 mg/L or less. A small preventive dose can be added before contamination occurs.
Makes trace metal impurities (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Ni²⁺) form bright alloy deposits on the cathode; prolongs the thorough cleaning cycle and improves plating quality; no mismatch with nickel brighteners reported after years of application.
Mist inhibitor — chrome emission control
Chrome plating
Chromium plating lines — workshop air quality
Appearance: white powder solid. Dose 0.06–0.09 g/L; dissolve completely in hot water at ≥80 °C before adding to the bath. First use: add 20–30% above the normal condition to reach super-saturation; replenish according to foam consumption.
Reproducible mist suppression, verified by measurable reductions in chromic acid vapour concentration; supports cleaner and safer plating environments.
Electroless nickel-phosphorus process
Electroless nickel
Industrial components; bath loading 0.2–2 dm²/L
Deposition rate 10–18 μm/h; bath life over 8 cycles. Coating: phosphorus 10–14 wt%, non-magnetic, density 7.1–7.9 g/cm³, melting point 860–950 °C, electrical resistivity 40–100 μΩ·cm, hardness 500–600 HV (900–1000 HV after 400 °C for 1 hour).
Semi-bright to bright coating; neutral salt spray (ASTM B117) above 1,000 hours at 35 °C, 5% NaCl; no colour change in 68% nitric acid after 1 minute or more; low porosity — none up to 15 μm; meets MIL-SPEC-26074D and AMS-2404B.
Passivating agent — trivalent chromium
Post treatment — passivation
Zinc-nickel alloy plated parts
Concentration 70 ml/L best (working range 50–100 ml/L); pH 3.5 best (3.5–4.0); immersion time 40 seconds best (30–60 s); solution temperature 30 °C best (25–40 °C). Minimum order 25 kg; plastic barrel; T/T or L/C.
Tight, uniform, transparent natural-colour passivate layer; formulated without adding hexavalent chromium; strong anti-corrosion performance for zinc-nickel plated parts; long solution life; good part-to-part uniformity.
Top coat — hydrophobic nano protective agent
Coating over electroplated layers
Protection of various electroplating layers
Two-component system, mixed A:B = 3:1; dilute with absolute ethanol; applied by spray, brush or dip.
Hydrophobic water resistance; exceptional wear resistance; fingerprint resistance for cleaner surfaces; improved decorative appearance; enhanced corrosion resistance; increased surface hardness.
Immersion gold additive — chemical gilding
Electronic plating / PCB
Nickel or nickel alloy surface — PCB chemical nickel gold and decorative immersion gold
Gold concentration 0.5–2.5 g/L; FI-7885 dosage 50–125 ml/L; pH 4.0–5.0; operating temperature 80–90 °C; treatment time 10–15 minutes.
Dense 24K gold colour layer with good adhesion and solderability; coating thickness up to 0.2 μm under suitable process control.
Alloy salt — nickel-free decorative
Alloy plating — decorative
Buttons, zippers and bathroom fittings; barrel and rack
Appearance: pinkish crystalline powder or solution. Packaging 25 kg fibre drum or plastic pail; shelf life typically 12–24 months; 1 kg sample kits available for qualified buyers.
Gun-metal / black chrome substitute finish; nickel-free alternative addressing REACH and RoHS restrictions on nickel in consumer goods; stable bath with high impurity tolerance; batch COA provided.
Degreasing agent — non-phosphorus
Pretreatment
Aluminium and aluminium alloy; immersion, ultrasonic and spray cleaning
898B 50–80 g/L; prepared bath pH 10–12; temperature 20–50 °C; time 5–20 min. Bath specific gravity 1.030–1.036 at 20 °C; each additional 5 g/L of agent raises specific gravity by 0.003. Consumption about 200–300 m²/kg.
Non-phosphorus and in line with environmental requirements; no corrosion or only weak corrosion of the base material; rapid degreasing at room temperature; also used for mechanical parts cleaning.
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Intermediates & raw materials
Intermediates and raw materials — parameters by product
For intermediates and raw materials the decisive parameters change: identity (CAS, formula), assay, appearance, pH, density and solubility, the role in the plating system, and packing and storage.
Chemical intermediates and raw materials — parameters by product 6 products · 10 parameters each Click to view all contentClick to collapse
Product
CAS No.
Chemical name & formula
Assay / content
Appearance
pH
Density & solubility
Role in plating system
Recommended addition
Packing & storage
1606-85-5
Butynediol ethoxylate — C₈H₁₄O₄, MW 174.2
≥98.0%
Clear yellow liquid
5.0–7.0
Density 1.10–1.15; miscible with water in all proportions at 20 °C
Brightener and lasting levelling agent in nickel electroplating baths; also a corrosion inhibitor for metals in acidic media
20–100 mg/L
25 kg/drum; store in a cool, dry place
2495-39-8
Sodium allyl sulphonate — C₃H₅O₃NaS, MW 144.12
≥25.0%
Clear colourless to yellowish liquid
6.5–9.0
Density 1.20–1.26 g/cm³
Basic brightener in nickel electroplating baths
3–5 g/L
30 kg drum; keep sealed in storage
2495-39-8
Sodium allyl sulphonate — C₃H₅O₃NaS, MW 144.12
35.0–36.0%; Na₂SO₃ ≤0.04%; NaCl 4.0–6.0%; Ca ≤10.0 ppm
Clear colourless to yellowish liquid
7.0–9.0
Density 1.235–1.260
Primary brightener for nickel plating to improve metal distribution and ductility; also used in electroless nickel plating
On request
30 kg/drum; store in a cool, dry place
7320-34-5
Potassium pyrophosphate — K₄P₂O₇, MW 330.05
96% export grade / 98% plating grade; P₂O₅ 41%; Fe 0.005%; water insolubles 0.08%; chloride 0.45%; Pb 0.01%
White block solid, powder or granular solid; easily deliquescent
10.5 ± 1 (1% aqueous solution)
Easily soluble in water, giving an alkaline solution; insoluble in alcohol
Raw material for non-cyanide plating and surface treatment; complexing agent for metal ions
On request
25 kg double-lined plastic bag in a woven outer bag; customer requirement possible
7488-55-3
Tin(II) sulfate — SnSO₄, MW 214.77
≥99.0%; Fe ≤0.005%; HCl-insoluble ≤0.005%; Pb ≤0.02%; alkali and alkaline-earth ≤0.10%; GB/T23839-2009, AR grade
On request
On request
Readily soluble and stable in acidic plating baths
Raw material for tin and tin-alloy plating; industrial use
On request
25 kg/package
9038-95-3
Poly(ethylene glycol-co-propylene glycol) monobutyl ether
Water ≤0.5% (Karl Fischer); colour ≤50 APHA
Colourless to yellowish liquid at 25 °C
5–7 (1% aqueous solution)
Specific gravity 1.040–1.050; cloud point 55–59 °C (1% aq.); viscosity 200–260 mPa·s
Non-ionic polymer used as a functional base for water-soluble metalworking fluids and synthetic hydraulic fluids
On request
200 kg / 1,000 kg; store cool, dry and well ventilated; shelf life 2 years
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Next step
Get the parameters confirmed for your own line
The set points that work on your line depend on your tank, rectifier and parts. Send the conditions below and we return the shortlist with the values that apply to you.
- Substrate and workpiece — base metal, part geometry and size.
- Bath system in use — or the system you intend to install.
- Rack or barrel — and the tank volume you are working with.
- Target appearance and thickness — plus any colour requirement.
- Corrosion requirement — for example the salt-spray hours you must pass.
- Cycle time and throughput — so the recommended window matches your line speed.
- Grade you use today — if you are switching or benchmarking, this anchors the comparison.
- Documents you need — data sheet, inspection certificate, or a declaration for your market.
Contact
Request a technical data sheet or a confirmed parameter set
Tell us the grades you are shortlisting and the conditions above. For commercial terms — sample, minimum order quantity, packing, lead time and payment — see the Procurement Guide.
Wuhan Fengfan International Trade Co., Ltd.
- info@fengfan.net
- Phone
- +86-27-85615818 (work time)
- Fax
- +86-27-85615828
- CrystaL-V26 (Ms. Crystal Liu)
- Office
- 3F, No.8 LingjiaoHu Rd., Hankou, Wuhan 430015, China
- Factory
- Xincheng 10th Road, Dongxihu District, Wuhan 430040, China
Start a request
Send your bath system, substrate and target result, and we will return the shortlisted grades with the parameters that apply to your line.
See the Procurement Guide for sample, MOQ, packing, lead time and payment terms.
FAQ
Product parameters — frequently asked questions
Common questions about the products, packing and documents listed above.
Which product lines and grades are covered?
Zinc, copper, nickel, chrome and alloy plating; electroless plating; aluminium anodizing; metal pretreatment and post treatment; coating chemicals; electronic plating; chemical intermediates; chemical raw materials; surfactants; and surface treatment equipment.
What are the minimum order quantity and packing?
Minimum order quantity and packing are set per product. TR-393 is supplied from 25 kg in a plastic barrel, with payment by T/T or L/C. Intermediates and raw materials come in 25 kg drums, bags or packages; ALS 25 and ALS-35 in 30 kg drums; JC-660 in 200 kg or 1,000 kg packs with a two-year shelf life. Sn-Co Salt C is packed in 25 kg fibre drums or plastic pails.
Are samples and batch documents available?
Yes. Sample kits are available for qualified B2B buyers — Sn-Co Salt C, for example, is offered as a 1 kg sample kit so you can verify compatibility with your base materials. Batch-to-batch consistency reports (COA) are provided with the goods, and MSDS and full product documentation are available on request.
How should the products be stored, and how long do they keep?
Keep the product sealed in its original packaging in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place. Shelf life is stated per product: two years for JC-660 (200 kg / 1,000 kg packs), the isomeric alcohol ethoxylates (200 kg/drum) and CAS 126-83-0 (25 kg/paper drum); 24 months for stannous sulfate in sealed containers at room temperature; and 12–24 months for Sn-Co Salt C. ALS 25 is best kept in its original 30 kg drum.
How do I ask about a specific product or parameter?
Email info@fengfan.net, call +86-27-85615818 during work time, or message WeChat CrystaL-V26 (Ms. Crystal Liu). Tell us the grade you are considering and the bath, substrate and target result, and we will come back with the parameters that apply to your line. You can also use the GET A QUOTE form on this site.
