The patented steel wire that is exclusively used for reinforcement of rubber products such as tyres and hoses is usually provided with a coating of brass alloy. Brass plating increases the fracture life during the drawing operation and also improves adhesion to rubber. In order to obtain suitable solution for brass plating with more efficiency and environmentally safer condition, this paper deals with the effect of free cyanide in plating solution, electroplating time and voltage on the quality and thickness of coating. The most suitable concentration of free cyanide was found as 5 g L−1. The ideal thickness of coating with maximum drawability is 2–3 μm and the optimum conditions for brass plating of wire has been achieved under voltage of 1·5–2 V, pH = 11 for 2–7 min, and temperature of 30°C. Also the mean adhesion strength between rubber and patented wire under optimum condition is ∼7·3 MPa.
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