Question

I have made a setup for electroplating copper. The electrolyte is acidic copper sulphate solution. The issue is that my copper electrode is leaving black particles in the solution. I found online that people place the copper electrodes in "Anode Bags" when they are plating. The bag keeps the particles inside while letting the Copper ions flow through. The problem is that I can not find an anode bag where I live so I am going to make my own. My question is that which fabric should I use? Is a normal piece of cloth going to be good for me or I will need some special fabric?

Answer 1

To make an anode bag for electroplating, you should use a fabric that is chemically inert and has a fine mesh. Nylon mesh fabric is a popular choice for anode bags.

Step-by-step explanation:

To make an anode bag for electroplating, you will need a fabric that is resistant to the acidic copper sulfate solution and can allow copper ions to flow through. A normal piece of cloth may not be suitable for this purpose as it may not be chemically compatible and could allow the black particles to pass through.

Instead, you should use a fabric that is chemically inert and has a fine mesh for trapping the particles. A popular choice for anode bags is nylon mesh fabric, which is readily available and can effectively contain the particles while allowing the copper ions to pass through.