Letter 1158

Removing electroless nickel plating from steel

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Are there chemical ways of removing electroless nickel plating from steel?

And are there chemical ways of removing tin plate from steel?

The criteria for either system - must not "poison" the surface nor cause loss of steel. And must be quick.

Is there a dye check that can be used after treatment that will show the complete removal of either plating?

Joe Redinger Weatherford - Canada

Cyanide-based strippers are pretty good at complexing other metals while leaving steel untouched. But if you need something cyanide-free, you might want to talk to a specialist in nickel strippers, like Metalx [Lenoir, NC].

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

Joe:

You might check with Enthone, they make a line of nickel & E nickel strippers. If I recall correctly it is called "N Strip".

Good Luck

Paul D. Stransky

For high P EN, I like Metalx's strippers. Work well and tend to be cheaper and less of a pain to dispose.  

James Watts - Florida

Please also see our FAQs on Stripping of Electroless Nickel.

Regards,

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

This is in response to Mr. Redinger's 1997 letter asking whether there's a dye to check if a steel part has been stripped of Nickel or other plating. I post this message for the curious. Generally in time you'll develop an "eye" for when a part is stripped. However if you simply immerse the part in [sulphuric] acid-copper plating bath (without current) the copper will contact plate to the steel through galvanic action and you'll be able to see any non-stripped areas. You can remove the immersion copper film quickly (a matter of seconds) by swishing the part in your strip bath. Regards, Steve Wilcox

Steve Wilcox
- Tecumseh, Michigan

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