The current and copper deposit distribution on a metallic fibre (stainless steel, diameter of 2 mm) was studied numerically and experimentally. The experimental copper deposit was measured with an optical microscope and the current distribution was deduced. The influence of electrolysis time on copper deposit distribution was also studied. A typical current tertiary distribution was observed. The experiment with a longer electrolysis time exhibited a larger current variation around the wire. A numerical study of this problem was also carried out. The simulation involved a laminar and turbulent flow solver together with a numerical model for the mass transfer of ionic species due to diffusion, migration and convection. A good correlation was found between simulated and experimental results for experiments with a short electrolysis time. This numerical model was then used to study the influence of the flow velocity and the diffusion coefficient on the current density and on the average mass transfer around a wire a few microns in diameter. The general relation: Shp = 0.41 Rep"Sh 0.44 for 0.02 < Rep < 14.22 and 1000 < Sc < 12,000 was obtained. Comparison with data available in the literature demonstrates good agreement between our model and previous results. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.