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INFORMATION DATA SHEET

SALMIX NF40
ELECTROCOLOURING ADDITIVE

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

SALMIX NF40 is a special stannous sulphate stabilizer for use in tin based electrocolouring
process. It is a bluish violet liquid which may darken in colour during storage with no detrimental
effect.

ADVANTAGES

• Improved stability providing significant savings in chemical costs.

• Excellent throwing power enabling uniform colour to be obtained on the most complex shapes.
• Free from toxic or polluting chemicals.
• Does not contain phenols or cresols.
• Easy to control: specific analytical methods for checking actual consumption and required
additions are available.

OPERATING CONDITIONS

Tin sulphate 10 – 18 g/l optimum 16 g/l

Sulphuric acid 16 – 24 g/l optimum 20 g/l
SALMIX NF40 30 – 60 g/l optimum 36 g/l
Temperature 20 – 25 °C optimum 22 °C

COLOURING TIMES (approximate)

Colour Conventional Technocolour power

power supply supply

Light bronze 2 minutes 1 minute

Medium bronze 5 minutes 2 – 3 minutes
Dark bronze 8 minutes 4 minutes
Black 12 – 15 minutes 6 – 8 minutes

Note : These colours can be achieved on oxide thicknesses as low as 10 microns.

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ELECTRODES

Electrodes can be : Stainless steel AISI 316 quality

Graphite
Tin

SOLUTION MAKE-UP

SALMIX NF40 36 g/l

Starting operating H2SO4 20 g/l
conditions SnSO4 16 g/l

1. Carefully rinse out the tank and the electrodes.

2. Fill the tank with demineralized water up to two-thirds of its final volume.
3. Add about one-third of the total quantity of sulphuric acid to the solution.
4. Add about two-thirds of SALMIX NF40 to the solution.
5. Calculate the required amounts of chemical in the following way:
a) 16 × V / 1000 = Kg of tin sulphate (*)
b) 36 × V / 1000 = Kg of SALMIX NF40
c) 20 × V / 1000 = Kg of sulphuric acid
where V = final volume in litres
(*) It is advisable to add a slight excess of tin sulphate, since the efficiency of a good quality
product is about 95% (even when products with effective titres of about 98-99% are used).
6. Dissolve the tin sulphate in the following way:
a) Prepare a plastic container of adequate capacity, equipped with mechanical stirrer
and transfer pump.
b) Place the following proportions of chemicals to dissolve in this container: use 1 Kg
of tin sulphate, 200 ml (366 grams) of sulphuric acid and 250 ml (273 grams) of
SALMIX NF40 for every 12 litres of demineralized water.
c) Carefully stir until the components have completely dissolved. The resulting solution
will be milky, but with no precipitate.
d) Allow the solution to rest for a few minutes.
e) Transfer the solution to the tank prepared as indicated in points 1-4.
7. Stir the solution by hand (only for a very short time, 1 – 2 minutes, if air is used) to achieve
greater homogeneity.
8. Continue dissolving as in point 6 until all the tin sulphate has been added, transferring to the
final tank and stirring as indicated in point 7.
9. Repeatedly rinse with demineralized water made acidic by the addition of 20 ml/l (36 g/l) of
sulphuric acid, in order to completely dissolve all traces of tin sulphate. Now transfer to the
tank.

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10. Rinse again with demineralized water, leaving the container and other items perfectly clean, and
add the rinsing waters to the tank.
11. Add any remaining sulphuric acid and stabilizers.
12. Bring to the required volume with demineralized water and stir with air for 2 – 3 minutes, or
longer when stirring by hand, until a completely homogenized solution is obtained.
13. Check the final concentration and adjust if these are lower than the suggested operational
condition (if higher, allow them to reduce by working). The tank is now ready for use.

CONSUMPTION
Given an average drag-out approximately 7 grams for each square metre of aluminium processed.

SOLUTION CONTROL AND ANALYSIS METHOD

SULPHURIC ACID CONCENTRATION

REAGENTS REQUIRED:
• Sodium hydrate 1N solution.
• Distilled water.

Note: Sulphuric acid is treated with sodium hydrate solution to pH 2.10. For the following method a
pH meter with a sensitivity of 0.1 unity is required. Prior to titrating the pH meter must be adjusted
to pH 2 with the appropriate buffer solution. During titration it is necessary to stir the solution with
either a magnetic stirrer or a glass rod.

METHOD:
• In a 400 ml beaker pour 100 ml of distilled water.
• Add with a graduated pipette 50 ml of bath solution.
• Stirring the solution titrate with sodium hydrate 1N solution up to pH=2.10.
• Titration consumption record as "A" ml.

CALCULATION:
A X 0.98 = g/l H2SO4

TIN SULPHATE CONCENTRATION

REAGENTS REQUIRED:
• Concentrated hydrochloric acid.
• Iodine 0.1 N solution.
• Starch solution (indicator).
• Marble chips.

METHOD:
• Measure 100 ml of distilled water and pour into a beaker.
• Add by graduated pipette 10 ml of hydrochloric acid.

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• Add some pieces of marble.

• Add by graduated pipette 10 ml of bath solution.
• Add 2 ml of starch solution as indicator.
• Titrate with iodine solution until the solution changes to blue.
• Quantity of titrate used record as "B".

CALCULATION:
B x 1.0737 = g/l of Tin Sulphate

SALMIX NF40
REAGENTS REQUIRED:
• Concentrated hydrochloric acid
• Potassium bromide
• Potassium bromate, 0.1 N solution
• Potassium iodide
• Starch solution (as indicator)
• Sodium thiosulphate 0.1 N solution

METHOD:
• Measure 100 ml of distilled water into a 500 ml conical flask.
• Add 20 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid.
• Add 10 ml of bath solution.
• Add 2 g of potassium bromide.
• Add 50 ml of 0.1 N potassium bromate solution.
• Store in a dark place for 10 minutes.
• Add 1 g of potassium iodide.
• Add some starch solution as indicator.
• Titrate using 0.1 N sodium thiosulphate solution until the bluish tinge disappears.
• Quantity of titrate used record as "C".

CALCULATION:
(50 - C - B) x 2.65 = grams per litre of SALMIX NF40

PACKAGING
SALMIX NF40 is available in 25 kg non-returnable plastic drums.

For further information on SALMIX NF40 or any other of the wide range of products we have
developed for use in the aluminium finishing industry please contact the Marketing or Technical
Dept of ITALTECNO S.R.L.
DATE OF LAST REVISION: 15/07/01
THIS EDITION SUBSTITUTES AND REPLACES ALL THE PREVIOUS ONES