Nickel sulfamate solutions: helpful source for the classic paper

Summary for nickel sulfamate solutions Discussion

Nickel sulfamate solutions are the focus of this thread, which starts with a request for Technical Series #10052, "Nickel Sulphamate Solutions" by Dr. Alec Watson. Ted Mooney replies that the paper had been available from NiDI in earlier years and notes a current location for it at nickelinstitute.org. In the related discussion, the original poster asks about the so-called "magic stress reducer" in sulfamate nickel plating, describing a published cell design that used sulfurized nickel anodes in the main bath and an auxiliary or overflow cell with electrolytic nickel anodes to generate the stress-relieving breakdown product. The poster recalls claims of very high current density and near-zero stress without other additives, and asks for the article. Guillermo and Richard are thanked for identifying the exact paper. The thread is mainly a pointer to the document and a recollection of the engineering approach, rather than a detailed technical explanation.

Q. Does anybody have a copy of Technical Series # 10052 “Nickel Sulphamate Solutions” By Dr.Alec Watson? I’ve searched high and low on the internet.

David De Pena
– Grand Junction, Colorado
January 12, 2021


⇩ Similar, related, Q&As — oldest first ⇩


Q. When doing sulfamate nickel plating, certain breakdown products are generated which are known to be stress relaxers. One of these breakdown products goes by the name of AUP, or “the magic stress reducer” (and possibly a few other names). I have a number of literature articles which note the existence of this product and its effects, and offer some attempts at exact analysis of the material:

“Study of the Anodic Decomposition Products in Sulphamate Nickel Plating Baths”, Jiazhu L; Haiyan Z; Liangyu Z; Plating & Surface Finishing (July 1990)

But I once saw, and cannot seem to find now, a published article about how to engineer the production of this stress reducer in the plating cell. I know there is a published technique where sulfurized nickel anodes are used in the main plating cell, but there is an auxiliary cell or overflow cell where electrolytic nickel anodes are employed in order to generate the stress relaxer. I remember that this cell design was reputed to allow plating at very high current density (over 200 ASF) with near zero stress and, I believe, no need for other addition agents.

If anyone has any recollection of this and can point me to the article I would appreciate it!

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha

finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey



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2002

A. In 1990, Dr. S. Alec Watson published one of the most comprehensive papers on the subject that is (or was) available thru the Nickel Development Institute page. Just type NiDI and search on technical papers.

Best regards,

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

A. Ted, I have a copy of an electroforming guide produced by INCO, which mentions the formation of stress reducer (azodisulfonate)when using insoluble platinum electrodes or high currents on nickel anodes. I have got it in pdf format if you want a copy, or you can download it from INCO’s site.

Regards,

Richard Guise
– Lowestoft, U.K.

A. Ted,

Guillermo is correct but more specifically you want Technical Series # 10052 “Nickel Sulphamate Solutions” By Dr.Alec Watson.

Russell Richter
– Danbury, Connecticut, USA

thumbs up signThank you very much Guillermo and Richard. Yes, Russell, that is the exact paper I was looking for — thanks!

The current location of that paper (September 2018) is
nickelinstitute.org/~/Media/Files/TechnicalLiterature/NickelSlulphamateSolutions_10052_.pdf ⇩

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha

finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey



Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.

Ed. update: That link appears to be broken, but we had downloaded a copy which we have made available at
finishing.com/185/18596ext.pdf


Q. We are looking at potentially trying out this “Ni-Speed” process. I’ve obtained and read copies of Dr. Watson’s papers from the NiDI and the INCO guild. There is a lot of very good info in these but I just wanted to see if I could gather a little more. I’ve been trying to obtain some of the sources for these documents, specifically, some of the old Transactions of the Institute of Metal Finishing and the old INCO publications that are cited. Has anyone tried to find these or possibly have copies?

Todd Murphy
– Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
July 26, 2013

adv.  
nickel how-to book

“The Sulfamate Nickel How-To Guide”

by David Crotty, PhD
& Robert Probert

published Oct. 2018
$89 plus shipping