Letter 6095

Butynediol and its derivatives 

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I'm looking for info. concerning butynediol or its derivatives when using it in a nickel sulfamate bath to control stress. I found several articles by Alec Watson citing its use as a leveler. Gabriel Schonwald also cited a technical note from Inco concerning its influence in a Ni-speed bath. I'm using it for optical mirror applications.

Chet Speegle
- Huntsville, AL

There are many articles on the chemical, as the results of a literature search should provide. It is a leveler and a brightener, and will increase tensile stress. I don't believe it would be used in electroforming, but it has been highly researched because it is very useful in bright nickel plating, so someone may have discovered other things about it.

Tom Pullizzi platronica.com Falls Township, PA

I agree with Tom, I would not use butyne diol as a stress controller, on the contrary.

Sara Michaeli     chemical process supplier Israel

I agree that 1,4 butyne diol is not a good stress reliever. According to Raub and Muller (in 1963) the optimum concentration of butyne diol for stress relief is 8 mm/L (ie 0.69 g/l) . This could become difficult to analyse and control without good analytical techniques. Most diol containing solutions seem to operate at about 2 g/l.

Other levelers are known, such as coumarin and thiourea; the latter being the best. However, it is toxic and may have severe problems with discharge limits.

For a mirror bright deposit, I suggest you talk to your supplier as he will know the chemistry of the system better than anyone.

Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist - UK

Hello all,

Procedure for the determination of butynediol. I am trying to determine the concentration of butynediol in an electroplating bath used for bright nickel plating. Any suggestions for doing this would be greatly appreciated!

Nathan Carrington
Process Electrochemist - Knoxville, TN, USA

I'm not a chemist and don't know the methods, Nathan. Sorry. But it's used as an auxiliary brightener and I can tell you that ASM Metals Handbook Volume 5 says it's typically used between .01 and 0.5 oz./gal. Hopefully the typical concentration is a start on what procedures would b appropriate. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

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