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Stains on nickel plated surface after etching

Hi All,

Stain was found on dull nickel plated surface after etching. (Nickel Sulfate with Nickel chloride plating bath) Would it be caused by insufficient postcleaning after the etching process or will the surface attacked by the acid/alkaline in the photo chemical machining process, such as KOH, HCL, H3PO4.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Clement Fan
- Hong Kong

I haven't really thought about your question in depth yet, but the easiest answer is usually that the nickel plating isn't thick enough.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

I hope you are doing nickel and chrome plating. If so, attack the chrome bath (sulphate content). If you are doing only nickel plating, before the components goes to nickel tank, the components should goes to mild acidic dip. In place of cleaner (KOH) use TSP (trisodium phosphate [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]) - avoid highly alkaline chemical in the cleaner and use the wetting agent in the cleaner.

R. Govindan
- India

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