Platinum Metals Review - Volume 33, Issue 3, 1989

Platinum and platinum alloy films electrodeposited from conventional aqueous electrolytes find application for a wide range of uses. During deposition a variety of problems have to be overcome, necessitating optimisation of process conditions; in addition currently available platinum plating processes are not considered to be particularly efficient. The invention of a new series of aqueous platinum or platinum-alloy electroplating baths which permits thick and adherent deposits to be produced, and which are more efficient than other commercial plating solutions, is now reported. Some results of investigations made on test pieces and limited pre-commercial proving samples, are also given.

The 1989 Spring Meeting of the Electrochemical Society was held in Los Angeles, California, from 7th to 12th May. Without doubt the major talking point among the 1,626 delegates concerned the prospects of nuclear fusion being achieved by the simple electrolysis of heavy water, between a palladium cathode and a platinum anode.

In the year 1800 Tennant and Wollaston agreed to share the expenses of a joint chemical enterprise, the most profitable aspect of which was to become the production and sale of malleable platinum. It is generally known that Wollaston was responsible for the chemical and metallurgical innovations which yielded a reliable process for the production of the metal. Although the role of Tennant was crucial in the establishment of the partnership, his well-known inability to bring projects to a successful conclusion created strain in the partnership, and his practical contributions amounted to little. Thus Wollaston fully deserves the credit given to him for the production of malleable platinum.