RHODUNA®-Alloy 1 Rhodium-Ruthenium Electrolyte
The first pure white electrolytic rhodium alloy
RHODUNA®-Alloy is the first alloy electrolyte in the world combining the high-quality metals rhodium and ruthenium. The basic materials of the new coating are truly royal: A mixture of rhodium, one of the world‘s most valuable precious metal, and the platinum group metal ruthenium.
Its white colour is absolutely equivalent to that of a pure rhodium layer. The electrolyte has all the quality characteristics of high-grade rhodium coatings and surpasses them in durability and uniformity. Its good throwing power even permits the plating of parts with complex geometries. It can be directly deposited on nickel, palladium, silver and gold.
At the same time, the „White Queen“ is considerably less expensive than pure rhodium layers.
Electrolyte characteristics
Electrolyte type: Strongly acidic
Metal content: 1.6 (0.8 - 1.8) g/l Rh 0.4 (0.2 - 0.5) g/l Ru
pH value: < 1
Operating temperature: 45 (40 - 50) °C
Current density range: 4.0 (3.0 - 5.0) A/dm²
Plating speed: Approx. 0.2 μm/min at 4.0 A/dm²
Anode material: MMO (type PLATINODE® 187 SO)
Coating characteristics
Coating: Rhodium-ruthenium
Alloy composition: 75 wt. % Rh, 25 % Ru
Colour of deposit: White
Brightness: Bright
Hardness: 600 - 900 HV
Advantages
Very light, white and ultra-bright coatings
More uniform layer thickness
Crack-free up to 1 μm
Wide current density range
Extremely abrasion-resistant
Less expensive than pure rhodium layers
Ideal for parts with complex geometries, e.g. chains
Suitable for rack and barrel
Applications
Spectacle frames
Writing implements
Jewellery
Watches
