SN/PB PLATING PEEL OFF FROM NICKEL SUBSTATE

Letter 21096

SN/PB PLATING PEEL OFF FROM NICKEL SUBSTATE

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MY BASE MATERIAL IS NICKEL PLATED AND IT GOES TO OTHER PRODUCTION PROCESSES, AND THEN IT WILL BE ELECTROPLATED WITH SN/PB 90% THE RESULT IS THE SN/PB COATING PEEL OFF OR AREAS OF NICKEL IS EXPOSED.

QUESTION.

1.HOW TO PRETREATMENT THE NICKEL TO IMPROVE SN/PB PLATING

2.HOW TO ACTIVATE THE NICKEL

3.HOW TO CHECK THE PROBLEM

B.S. Roxas
- Manila, Laguna, Philippines

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Please give more details about the nickel; for example, is it bright nickel or a simple watts type bath? This will greatly influnece any treatments. You must also supply details of your current pretreatment and the type of Pb/Sn bath you use. the more details you supply, the better the answers will be - I do not know anyone who can read the minds of others, especially over the Internet.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist - UK

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Assuming the Tin/Lead plating bath is the old fashion fluoborate formulation, then: (1) Clean the old nickel CATHODICALLY in a steel electrocleaner formulation at about 12 oz/gal, 50 amps/sq ft, (2) Make the part cathodic in 50% Fluoboric Acid using bagged carbon anodes, do not rinse (30 enter "hot" into the tin/lead plating solution. To test: hammer, tape, bend, scrape, etc...

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

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