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Electroless Nickel (EN) Plating on Leaded Steel Alloys

We need to plate Electroless Nickel onto Leaded steel alloys such as 12L17. Under the Microscope we are experiencing pits in the nickel. Can anyone suggest a preplate treatment strike? etc. We suspect the lead oxide is the cause of the problem.

Jim Kronus
- Escondido, California

Clean-Rinse-Dip in 50%/vol Fluoboric Acid-Rinse- then plate in anything. Lead forms insolubles in Sulfuric Acid and Hydrochloric Acid. Lead does not form an insoluble in Fluoboric Acid.

Ideally you would strike and/or plate in a Fluoboric Acid Matrix Nickel solution.

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

Editor's note:
   Mr. Probert is the
   author of

Aluminum How-To / Aluminio El Como

Mallory book
Electroless Plating - Fundamentals & Applications,
Mallory & Hajdu

Gawrilov book
Chemical (Electroless) Nickel Plating
G.G. Gawrilov

I agree with the previous reply, a dip in fluoboric acid will solve your problem.

Sara Michaeli
chemical process supplier
Israel

You can also overcome adhesion problems with a copper strike underlayer.

Gabriel Schonwald
Interplate Ltd.

Bnei Berak, Israel

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