Guide
Anode Sludge in the Plating Bath: Narrowing Down the Cause
Anode sludge in electroplating ➔ where it comes from, what it does in the bath and what an anode bag can and cannot do. Read...
Read guide →Anode Bags and Cathode Bags for Electroplating
Electroplating anode bags do one job: they enclose the anode and hold particulate residue where it is produced, before it spreads through the electrolyte and ends up in the deposit. Everything on this page is about that job and about the second, quite different job of a cathode bag.
Anode bags in 5, 15 and 25 µm · cathode bags for anodising lines · standard sizes available to order · custom sizes on request
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Plating Anode Bag, 15 Micron PP Fabric | WINKLER From 6,10 € / exkl. MwSt.Six sizesLaser-cut edgesStandard grade -
5 Micron Anode Bag for Electroplating, PP Needle Felt | WINKLER From 10,10 € / exkl. MwSt.5 micronNeedle feltSix sizes -
Anode Bag 25 Micron for Organic-Rich Electrolytes | WINKLER From 21,70 € / exkl. MwSt.MonofilamentCalenderedBright nickel -
Cathode Bags for Anodizing, PP Textile Cover | WINKLER From 17,00 € / exkl. MwSt.Custom-madeSix lengthsLaser-cut
Anode bags for electroplating, and what they are not
One clarification first, because the English term is shared with another industry. When people search for anode bags, some of them mean backfill bags for sacrificial anodes in cathodic protection, the kind used with magnesium or zinc anodes in soil, in water heaters or on hulls. We do not supply those. Our anode bags are filter bags for electroplating and anodizing tanks, made in Werther in Germany, and shipped across Europe.
Four products, and the question each of them answers
| Product | Construction | The question it answers |
|---|---|---|
| 15 micron anode bag | Woven PP staple fibre yarn, 320 g/m² | The established process with a known electrolyte |
| 5 micron anode bag | PP needle felt, 400 g/m² | Fine residue is showing up on the plated part |
| 25 micron anode bag | Calendered PP monofilament, 370 g/m² | The electrolyte carries a high organic load |
| Cathode bags | PP textile cover | A cathode profile in an anodizing line |
The first three are graded by micron rating and the fourth is not part of that series at all. It works at the opposite electrode and has a different function.
Why the micron rating does not decide on its own
Three bags in the same material, separated by three numbers, look like a scale from fine to coarse. The measured data say something else.
| Grade | Construction | Air permeability |
|---|---|---|
| 5 µm | Needle felt | 125 l·dm⁻²·min⁻¹ |
| 15 µm | Woven staple fibre yarn | 50 l·dm⁻²·min⁻¹ |
| 25 µm | Calendered monofilament | 25 l·dm⁻²·min⁻¹ |
The finest grade is the most permeable and the coarsest is the tightest, by a factor of five. That is not a contradiction, it follows from three different constructions. A needle felt is an unordered web with a high void fraction that separates through its depth. A monofilament weave has defined openings between smooth filaments, and calendering compacts them further. The staple fibre weave sits between the two.
All three figures are air permeability, measured on the flat material by the fabric supplier. They compare our grades with each other. They do not describe how much electrolyte moves through a bag in your tank.
The micron ratings are nominal values stated by the fabric supplier as well. They describe how the fabric is specified, not a tested cut-off for the finished bag in a running process. The selection guide works through this in detail.
Sizes, anode baskets and made-to-measure bags
The 15 and 5 micron grades come in six standard sizes from 160×80 to 1250×375 mm, the 25 micron grade in five of them, and the cathode bags in six lengths from 1040 to 2250 mm. Those cover common anode baskets, plate anodes, billet anodes and cathode profiles.
Where they do not fit, we make the bag to your dimensions. Custom anode bags are a large part of what we do, and the enquiry moves faster if you send the anode dimensions, the shape, the opening, the suspension and the electrolyte with its concentration and temperature.
Buying anode bags in Europe
We manufacture in Werther in Germany and ship across Europe from there, so buyers searching for anode electroplating bags in the EU are dealing with the manufacturer rather than a reseller. That also means special sizes and prototypes come from the same production line as the standard range.
If you are looking at anode bags for sale on price alone, one thing is worth checking against any offer: which construction is actually behind the micron figure, and whether the permeability value was measured at the same test conditions. Two ratings are only comparable when both are.
Frequently asked questions about anode bags and cathode bags
What is an anode bag used for in electroplating?
It encloses the anode, or the anode basket, and supports retention of particulate residue in the anode area before it spreads through the electrolyte.
Which micron rating should I choose?
Start from the process rather than the number. An established bath usually runs on 15 microns, fine residue on the part points to 5, and a high organic load points to 25. The selection guide walks through it.
What is the difference between an anode bag and a cathode bag?
An anode bag retains particulate residue at the anode. A cathode bag is a textile cover pulled over cathode profiles in an anodizing line and has nothing to do with sludge retention.
What temperature do the bags withstand?
All active grades are polypropylene with a maximum working temperature of 90 °C. Suitability for a specific medium and concentration is checked separately.
Do you supply anode bags for cathodic protection?
No. Backfill bags for sacrificial anodes are a different product for a different industry. Everything in this category is for electroplating and anodizing tanks.
Is a finer bag always the safer choice?
No. A finer material can blind sooner under a high solids load, and in this range the finest grade is also the most permeable, which is the opposite of what most people expect.
Can I get anode bags made to measure?
Yes. Custom anode bags for anode baskets, plate anodes, billet anodes and special geometries are made in Werther. Send the dimensions, the shape, the opening, the suspension and the bath parameters.
Related to this category
Guides & knowledge
Selection guidance and technical background for the products in this category.
Guide
How to Choose an Anode Bag: 5, 15 or 25 Microns?
How to choose an anode bag ➔ what the micron rating really tells you, how the three fabrics differ and how to measure. Read the...
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