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Cyanide Zincate

Does anyone plate electroless nickel on aluminum that uses a cyanide zincate? Who? Does cyanide zincate help with adhesion of the Nickel to the substrate?

Brandon Hellenbrand
- Fairburn, Georgia, USA

First of two simultaneous responses --

To call it a cyanide zincate is probably a bit of an overstatement. A zincate or alloy zincate that contains a trace amount of cyanide would be a much fairer answer. When I was actively in plating, I never came across a plater that did not say that it had better adhesion. Harder to control and it does require special haz waste procedures for that tank and rinses. Not all that difficult. Very few platers use it because a normal double zincate will suffice for nearly all work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

Second of two simultaneous responses --

Yes cyanide zincate is used. I think there are non-cyanide zincates that have been developed. I don't know what process you use other than zincate and nitric acid to strip before copper strike/electroless nickel strike.

Bill Hemp
tech svc. w/ chemical supplier - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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