Letter 28086

Removing Nickel from Glass  

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I am a manufacturer of Sealed CO2 Lasers for processing non metals materials typically used in pharmaceutical products and packaging. Our lasers use a nickel cathode. Over time the cathode is sputtering onto our glass tubes. I am looking for a solution I can use to remove the nickel from the glass. If we get to much of a nickel build up it cause thermal stress and catastrophic failure in our tubes. I was told that a 7% mixture of Chlorox with water would work and it did not even touch it. Any suggestions.

Thanks,

Colin Snook
electronics manufacturer - Phelps, Wisconsin, USA

Possibilities are nitric acid say 50% by vol or say 10-20% vol sulphuric acid or nitric acid activated with say 10% vol hydrogen peroxide.

Geoff Whitelaw
- Port Melbourne, Vic., Australia

You can use nitric acid. Or try stronger chlorox solution. Iron chloride solution also works (not to concentrated). Also you can add some iron chloride/or sulphate/ to nitric acid. But be careful, use rubber protective gloves [link is to product info at Amazon] and goggles [link is to product info at Amazon].

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

Use 10% sulphuric acid with 20% hydrogen peroxide. It works a treat.

Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist - UK

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