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Anodes for Alkaline Zinc-Nickel plating

Q. MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS INVOLVED IN ELECTROLYTIC NICKEL/ZINC COATING OF LOW AND HIGH CARBON STRIP STEEL? OUR CURRENT LINE IS CAPABLE OF ZINC COATING AND COPPER COATING STRIP STEEL WITH A CN CARRIER. I AM INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES OF Ni/Zn COATING. I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS PRODUCT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE PROCESS IS TO USE A NICKEL ZINC ALLOY ANNODE IN THE PLATING CELLS OR INDIVIDUAL ZINC CELLS AND NICKEL CELLS. DOES THE PROCESS USE A CN CARRIER OR A CN LESS CARRIER.

PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU CAN HELP ME IN THIS QUEST.

THANK YOU

ALAN F. LEO
- AUSTINTOWN, OHIO USA
2001

A. Alan,

There are many chemical suppliers of the zinc-nickel plating processes that should be able to help you. Check the finishing services guide book. There are two types of zinc-nickel alloy: a low alloy with a 5% to 12% nickel content and a high alloy with a 13% to 18% nickel content. The high alloy has best corrosion protection; however, the low alloy is more ductile and is better suite for parts that may get bend or crimp later. The solution base is sodium hydroxide and I believe there are some acid base processes as well. The process that I use has, which is the NaOH base, has an off-line zinc generator and inert nickel plated steel anodes. Nickel metal concentrate is added based on amp-hours. There are other process that have separate zinc and nickel anodes in the bath which are controlled by separate power supplies in the same cell.

Karl Weyermann
- Lebanon, Kentucky
2001

Q. We are currently running an alkaline Zn Ni bath in a high volume barrel line. Currently the anodes are bare steel and need to be cleaned of smut on a regular basis to maintain the plating performance.

There seem to be several thoughts on anodes: Bare steel, Nickel plate (not sure what kind of nickel) and protecting the anodes in a caustic cell with a membrane.

Any experiences with either? I am considering transitioning to plated anodes

Thanks in advance.

Denis Mikitchook
plater - Detroit, Michigan, USA
November 3, 2014

A. I've normally used nickel anodes, or steel anodes plated with a HEAVY (overnight/two days) coating of sulfamate nickel.

Shaun Devlin
- Lowell, Massachusetts USA
November 3, 2014

Q. Hi. Vikesh this side. I am starting a new alkaline zinc nickel line so please suggest what kind of anodes to be used for best results: nickel anodes, or mild steel sheets with 25 microns nickel coating, or nickel 201 sheets available in market. Anode length to be used is 40 inches
If nickel coated sheet, then please suggest if I can do low phosphorus electroless nickel?

Thanks

Vikesh satija
- Faridabad, haryana, India
February 16, 2016

A. Hi Vikesh. We appended your inquiry to a discussion of the subject.

If you want to use a zinc generation tank as mentioned by Karl, you might want to also look at topic 32782 which discusses that in a lot of detail. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 2016

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