Description:The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to an electroplating process, specifically an electroplating process which increases the life of the gold plating on the jwellery.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0001] Electroplating is the mechanism by which an electro-deposition is applied to another piece of metal (or to another conductive surface) using an energy current. The deposited metal becomes part of the current product in electroplating by means of plating/coating, for electroplating a metal, it needs to generate electric current with two different metals, an electrolyte solution, two electrodes and battery or other energy. One metal becomes negatively charged once the electricity is turned on, and the other metal becomes positively charged. The positively charged metal molecules slowly move to the surface of the negatively charged metal for a certain period of time, which produces a very thin layer.
[0002] Sometimes Electroplating is solely done for decorative purpose such as the products we use indoors or in a dry environment where they are unlikely to suffer from corrosion. These types of products normally have a thin layer of gold, or silver applied so that it has an attractive appeal to the consumer. Electroplating is widely used in industries such as automobile, airplanes, electronics, jewelry, and toys.
[0003] There are plenty of advantages for electroplating. Electroplating has been most useful in preventing corrosion and protecting object from common utility articles such as jewellery pieces. There are prominent advantages of electroplating;
1.Protection: Electroplating is most known for its protective properties against corrosion. The process saves objects from rusting or tarnishing.It scales heat resistance and provides shock protection.
2. Reduced friction: Electroplated objects rub together with less friction and there is less scraping. Only negligible damage is caused to the objects and they can be used for a longer period.
3. Adhesion: The process of electroplating improves the adhesion of the outer layer of the object. This fastens the coating firmly.
4. Protection from thickness: Electroplating protects the objects by adding its thickness.
[0004] Electroplating has proven to be most useful in the commercial scene. Electroplating parts of cars and other automobiles with Chromium coating provides it smooth looks and texture. There are more commercial applications of electroplating. Metals are subject to corrosion and rusting especially when exposed to moisture. A thin layer of coating can prevent such damage to the objects. For example. Copper, Chromium and Nickel are some non-corrosive metals coated over corrosive metals as steel and Iron.
[0005] Electroplating is used to purify metals such as Copper. Moreover, Copper plating is also an important process. A layer of Copper is plated on an object electrolytically. Copper plating improves the conductivity of the object on which plating is done. Copper plating provides a smooth surface where additional coating can be done. Copper has adhesive properties and the coating binds well to the surface. It also provides resistance to corrosion.
[0006] Electroplating can change the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of metals. It can increase the tensile strength and hardness of metals thus the process is important for tooling industry. Get protection from radiation with electroplating. Provide better features of metals to the other metals with the effective coating process. Good conductors such as silver and gold are used in small amounts with other metals, electroplated to form integrated circuits, electrical components.Since these metals as silver and gold are precious, electroplating with other metals is a great option improving electrical conductivity.
[0007] Electroplating can boost the appearance of products. Applying a thin layer of rare and valuable metals over cheaper metals provide great lustre and appeal, higher quality to the finished product. The expenditure is also minimal. For such property, electroplating is extensively used in jewellery design.
[0008] Various types of plating known in the art are;
Copper plating : One of the best electrical conductors is copper. A coating of copper provides several materials with exceptional electrical conductivity. An electrical current is used to deposit a coating of copper onto a base metal in the copper plating process. Copper wire dipped into an electrolyte (copper sulphate) acts as an anode and an electrolyte is dipped into an iron rod to be plated and externally attached as a cathode. Electricity flows through the circuit, and the metal deposits a coating of copper atoms.
Silver plating: It requires the layer being immersed into a silver ion bath. The ions deposit on the surface of the component after transferring electrons through the solution, covering it with the selected metal. Some of the characteristic properties of silver plating are high thermal conductivity, high toughness, low contact electrical resistance, strong chemical resistance and anti-bacterial effects.
Rustic Patina: It is the decoloration of the surface of an object because of extended exposure (6 to 36 months) to atmospheric conditions, oxidization and various other chemical reactions. It gives items like chairs, railings, hotel interiors, partitions and artifacts an unsophisticated look. It gives a country look to every living place’s ambience.
Brass Plating: Usually, by deposition of brass from an electroplating bath, the coating is applied electrolytically. To protect items from corrosion, brass plating is used to provide strong bonds between steel and aluminum articles. Brass plating is a way of strengthening titanium and its alloys’ antifriction properties.
Gold plating: Gold Plating is a process by which chemical or electrochemical plating deposits a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal in the presence of electricity. Depending on how dense the plate is meant to be the metal remains submerged for a certain amount of time.
The best visual appeal and versatility make it the valuable item. Some of the characteristic properties of gold plating are corrosion resistance, heat protection, reflectivity, and wear resistance.
[0009] Gold plating by electrodeposition employing a gold plating bath or electrolyte-is a long known and widely used technique. However, in recent years, the price per gram of gold has soared resulting in increase in the price of gold-plated articles. Nevertheless, the demand for such gold-plated articles is increasing. This is particularly true of gold-plated articles which for all practical and aesthetic purposes take on the appearance of pure gold articles, that is, articles which have a hard, pale-colored, smooth, mirror-bright surface.
[0010] Over the years, gold plating has been carried out primarily employing an electrolytic bath containing an alkali metal aurocyanide as the gold source, which may also include other soluble metal salts. One such type of electrolytic bath is operated on the alkaline side, and is usually maintained at a pH in the range of 8 to 12 so as to avoid formation of the extremely toxic hydrogen cyanide gas as well as the possible formation of insoluble aurous cyanide.
[0011] A kind of wear-resisting rose gold plate, including metallic matrix, the metal matrix material are stainless steel, the metallic matrix It is equipped with rose gold plate, the ingredient of the rose gold plate is according to weight percent are as follows: Cu:30~40wt%, Zr:1~ 5wt%, Ni:0.5~1wt%, Cr:0.4~0.6wt%, Ce:0.1~0.2wt%, surplus Au.
[0012] The color of the gold alloy depends on the content of alloying elements. For example, for an 18 Carat AuCuAg alloy, it becomes red due to a copper content of over 180% and a silver content of around 40%. The color is towards pink and then yellow as the copper content decreases from 180 to 150 and from 150 to 60 and as the silver content increases from 40 to 150. Change. Small watch cases or bracelets made from these standard gold alloys have been found to tend to change color gradually due to the action of tap water, sea water, swimming pool water, salt water, or soapy water.
[0013] Reference can be made to CN105839158A discloses about the continuous electroplating process comprises the following steps: (1) ultrasonic degreasing: using an alkaline solution, the composition of the surfactant fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate sulfonate mass fraction 1-5%, sodium hydroxide 20-30%, The rest is water, ultrasonic degreasing time is 3-5min, this step can achieve the removal of grease on the surface of the part to be plated; (2) electric de-oiling: the part to be plated is the anode, the stainless steel plate is the cathode, the pH is 8- In a solution environment of 14 by direct current, the current density is 5-15 A/dm 2 , the solution temperature is 60-80 ° C, and the solution composition is the surfactant sulfonate mass fraction 1-5% of the fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate. 20-30% sodium hydroxide, the rest is water, the oil release time is 3-5min, this step to achieve further removal of the oily substance on the surface of the part to be plated; (3) acid activation: the use of mass concentration of 2-5% sulfuric acid at room temperature Under immersion treatment for 6-10min for activation, this step activates the surface of the part to be plated to improve the efficiency of subsequent plating; (4) Nickel plating: temperature 50-60 ° C, current density 2- in nickel plating solution with pH 3.8-4.5 6A/dm 2 is nickel-plated for 40-50min, nickel plating is nickel 260-320g/L, nickel chloride 38-5 3g / L, boric acid 38-50g / L, softener propargyl sulfonate sodium 2-3mg / L, the spacer agent allyl sulfonate sodium 1-2mg / L, to achieve rapid nickel plating, can be used as a base nickel , can also be used as gold nickel; (5) gold plating: in the gold plating solution of pH 3.8-4.5 temperature 50-60 ° C, current density 2-6A / dm 2 gold plating treatment 40-50min, gold plating concentration of gold salt 70- 100g/L, citric acid 30-60g/L, softener propane sulfonate sodium 2-3mg/L, traversing agent allyl sulfonate sodium 1-2mg/L, to achieve rapid gold plating; (6) tin plating : In the tin plating solution with pH 3.8-4.5, the temperature is 50-60 ° C, the current density is 2-6 A/dm 2 , the tin plating treatment is 40-50 min, and the tin plating concentration is 30-50 g/L of tin methanesulfonate. 10-20g/L of base sulfonic acid, 2-3mg/L of softener propargyl sulfonate, 1-2mg/L of sodium allyl sulfonate, and water-soluble fiber of reinforcing agent, 0.2g/L -10g / L, length 2-4mm, to achieve fast, high-strength tin plating, especially after adding water-soluble fiber, the tin plating layer has better fastness; (7) ultrasonic hot water cleaning to achieve the cleaning of the coating surface; 8) Sealing, sealing the small holes of the plating layer to improve the anti-corrosion ability of the coating; (9) drying, After drying, it becomes the final product.
[0014] Reference can be made to CN101255509A discloses about a method may include the following processes in sequence: (1) removing the grease from the surface by ultrasonic cleaning with gold jewelry; (2) washing the washing liquid on the gold jewelry with water; (3) removing the oil by electrochemical means; (4) (5) pickling with sulfuric acid; (6) chrome plating the surface of the gold jewelry; (7) washing the gold jewelry after the ruthenium plating, washing away the plating solution; (8) according to the pattern required, Gold jewelry is partially coated with insulating varnish; (9) Electrolytic removal of oil stains during the process of applying insulating varnish; (10) Gold plating or gold and copper alloy plating or gold plating on gold jewelry; (11) Remove the insulating varnish; (12) wash and dry. By the above method, gold or gold and copper alloys and black nails may be plated on the parts not coated with the varnish, and the parts coated with the varnish are not electrically conductive and are not plated to expose silvery white enamel, forming white and Yellow or black, red and colorful, dazzling effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig1 depicts
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED.
[0015] Above prior arts discloses about lengthy and costly process for plating of jewellery, and the chemical used in the above cited arts are not environmental friendly and somne of them are even hazardous to health.
[0016] To overcome aboe problems there is a need of a cost effective process for plating jewellery which have an extended life expectancy
OBJECT OF INVENTION
[0017] Main object of the invention is to provide a cost effective process for gold plating.
[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide a process which enhances the the life of plating on the jewellery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a cost effective gold plating process, specific steps of the process are as follows:
1. Ultrasonic cleaning
2. First Cleaning
3. First Steam exposure
4. Degreasing
5. Second rinsing
6. Acid activation
7. Third rinsing
8. First Electro Plating
9. First rinsing at raised temperature
10. Second Electro Plating
11. Second rinsing at raised temperature
12. Fourth rinsing
13. Second steam exposure
14. Drying
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] As used herein, articles such as "a" and an when used in a claim, are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described. The terms "comprise," "comprises," "comprising," "contain," "contains," "containing," "include," "includes" and "including" are all meant to be non- limiting. The technical solutions of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments thereof. It is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Modifications of the various equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Example 1
[0021] 15-20 workpiece in a zig and then dip the zig in an ultrasonic machine for sonication process, keep the zig suspended in ultrasonic machine for a time period of 15-20 seconds for cleaning the chains hanged on the zig, after sonication is completed said chains are rinsed with DM water for two cycles. After the cleaning of chain with DM water is completed then the said chains are exposed to steam, the source of steam is DM water which generated using a steam generator, steam is passed homogenously on the entire surface of the chains for a short duration. After the chains are exposed to steam they are subjected to degreasing, the degreasing is performed using a degreasing bath maintained at 5.5 volt, and the degreasing process is carried for 25-30 seconds. After Degreasing is completed then the said chains are rinsed with DM water for again two cycles. Upon rinsing the said chains are then activated for plating by dipping them in a bath of sulphuric acid for duration of 6-7 seconds. Once the said chains are itched for 6-7 seconds using acid bath are then rinsed with DM water for yet another two cycles. Another wash is provided to the said chains using fresh lot of DM water. Post activation and rinsing of the chains using fresh DM water the said chain are dipped in rose flash solution bath for 15 seconds, during this step the temperature of the rose flash bath is maintained at 60 degrees and the said rose flash bath is provided a voltage of 9.5 volts for the time period the said chains are dipped in the rose flash solution bath. Upon completing first plating the said chains are then rinsed with DM water at RT and followed by washing with hot DM water for a period of 5-6 seconds, this concludes the process of first plating of chain which starts post activation and ends with sequential rinsing of chains with DM water followed by washing with hot DM water and this first plating is repeated for three more cycles. Upon completion of three cycles the chains are subjected to Eurotarnish bath and are exposed to 50 degrees for an extended time period of 7-10 min, the said Eurotarnish bath is provided with a voltage of 6V, this concludes the second plating process. After completion of second plating the said chains are then rinsed using hot DM water which is kept at 55-60 degree Celsius followed by normal DM water wash. After completion of DM water wash the said chains are then exposed to steam. Said chains are then completely dried to make sure there are no traces of condensed water or the surface of the said chain are moist.

, Claims:We Claim-
1. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery, characterized in that the specific steps of the process are as follows:
（1）Fix the workpiece on the zig;
（2）Ultrasonic cleaning of the workpiece;
（3） FirstSteaming of the work piece;
（4）Degreasing of the workpiece;
（5）Activation of workpiece;
（6）First Electroplating of workpiece;
（7）Sequential rinsing of workpiece with DM water followed by washing with hot DM water;
（8）Repeatation of step 6 and 7 for three cycles;
（9）Second Electroplating of workpiece;
(10) Workpiece to be rinsed in hot DM water 55-60 degree;
(11) Second steaming of the workpiece;
(12) Completely dried workpiece.
2. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (2) cleaning surface of the workpiece is carried out as follows:
Workpiece is suspended in ultrasonic machine for a time period of 15-20 seconds for cleaning the workpiece hanged on the zig, after sonication is completed said chains are rinsed with DM water for two cycles.
3. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (3) steaming of surface of the workpiece is carried out as follows:
Workpiece are exposed to steam, the source of steam is DM water generated using a steam generator, steam is passed homogenously on the entire surface of the workpiece for a short duration.

4. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (4) degreasing of surface of the workpiece is carried out as follows:
Workpiece are subjected to degreasing, the degreasing is performed using a degreasing bath maintained at 5.5 volt, and the degreasing process is carried for 25-30 seconds, degreasing is followed by rinsing with DM water for two cycles.

5. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (5) Activation of surface of the workpiece is carried out as follows:
Workpiece are then activated for electroplating by dipping them in a bath of sulphuric acid for duration of 6-7 seconds, once the said workpiece are itched for 6-7 seconds using acid bath are then rinsed with DM water for two cycles, followed by a wash using fresh lot of DM water
6. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (6) First electroplating of the workpiece is carried out as follows:
Workpiece are dipped in rose flash solution bath for 15 seconds, during this step the temperature of the rose flash bath is maintained at 60 degrees and the said rose flash bath is provided a voltage of 9.5 volts for the time period the workpiece are dipped in the rose flash solution bath.
7. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (7) Sequential rinsing of workpiece with DM water as follows: chains workpiece are then rinsed with DM water at room temperature and followed by washing with hot DM water for a period of 5-6 seconds.
8. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (8) First electroplating steps (6-7) are repeated for three consecutive cycles.
9. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (9) Second electroplating of workpiece is carried as follows:
workpiece are subjected to Eurotarnish bath and are exposed to 50 degrees for an extended time period of 7-10 min, the said Eurotarnish bath is provided with a voltage of 6V.
10. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (10) Rinsing of workpiece post second electroplating is carried as follows:
Workpiece to be rinsed in hot DM water 55-60 degree
11. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (11) Second steaming of workpiece is carried as follows:
After completion of DM water wash the workpiece are then exposed to steam.
12. A novel process for electroplating of jewellery according to claim 1, characterized in that: said step (12) Drying of workpiece is carried as follows:
Said workpiece are then completely dried to make sure there are no traces of condensed water on the surface of the workpiece.

Dated- 12th Day of October 2022 Signature of the Agent
Rajat Chaudhary IN/PA-3136