Abstract: Metals such as lead, silver, copper, calcium, antimony, cadmium, nickel and zinc are electroplated onto a film-forming metal substrate from the group of aluminium, titanium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and alloys thereof, using an etching/electroplating solution comprising ions of the metal(s) to be plated, optionally alkali metal ions, aluminium halide and an aromatic hydrocarbon. Surface oxide is removed from the film-forming metal substrate by reaction with the aluminium halide and the metal(s) in solution to form soluble complexes, this possibly being assisted by anodization. This is followed by cathodically connecting the substrate and passing current to electroplate the metal(s) onto the oxide-free surface, directly in the same etching/electroplating solution.

Abstract: An electrode in particular an oxygen-evolving anode for metal electrowinning from an acid electrolyte comprises a body of aluminum or other metal coated with lead or a lead alloy by electroplating preferably from a non-aqueous electrolyte. The substrate can be a sheet of aluminium or compacted particles of aluminium plated with lead or a lead alloy. A sheet of lead or lead alloy is clad to the electroplated substrate and advantageously an electrocatalytic material such as surface-activated valve metal sponge is applied to the surface of the lead or lead alloy.