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Copper backing Thickness

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

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Ismael Alvarado
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:00 pm

Copper backing Thickness

Post by Ismael Alvarado »

When using zinc or iron powder and Copper Sulfate to protect the silver layer of the mirror what determines the thickness of the copper layer? I know the basics of how copper is deposited on iron(Solid iron piece ) or Zinc(Solid Zinc piece) which is called displacement plating or immersion plating, but it has a thickness limit because as soon as there are not Iron or Zic atoms to be displaced the reaction stops, now you just cant throw copper sulfate on top of Silver and expect the same reaction, that’s why iron or zinc powder are used, but my question is.. is there a limit of thickness one can achieve on this process?(backing silver mirrors with copper) or one can have the thickness one desires?
pat mackle
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:35 pm

Re: Copper backing Thickness

Post by pat mackle »

I think to achieve any copper deposit thicker than using dissimilar metals to deposit the copper will require electrical current. At some point, past depositing a thin

smooth copper layer, you will begin to see nodules of copper begin to form.
Ismael Alvarado
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:00 pm

Re: Copper backing Thickness

Post by Ismael Alvarado »

pat mackle wrote:I think to achieve any copper deposit thicker than using dissimilar metals to deposit the copper will require electrical current. At some point, past depositing a thin

smooth copper layer, you will begin to see nodules of copper begin to form.
thanks I appreciate you taking the time to answer..
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