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Crystal growth on electroplated nickel

Hi
I have recently noticed small crystals forming on electroplated nickel surfaces. The crystals can be rinsed off with water.
Has anyone seen this before?

Also, at the same time as the crystals started to appear, I noticed a foisty smell to the water I was using for the makeup of my nickel sulphamate plating tanks.
Could the problem be related to this?

Richard John
plating shop - Redcar, Cleveland, UK
2005

Can we have more details please? Process, colour of crystals, rinses, plated articles, etc etc

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2005

What is a foisty smell? I assume it must be something British!

Gene Packman
process supplier - Great Neck, New York
2005

We must be clear what we're referring to, Gene. The word is British, the smell is French :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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