Summary for nickel plating on stainless steel Discussion
Nickel plating on stainless steel is discussed in terms of what would make it "deplete." Jason David VanMeter asked whether temperature, humidity, or other environmental conditions could cause nickel on 300 series stainless to fail. James Totter replied that if the plating is dropping off, the likely cause is not the environment but poor pretreatment and the absence of a nickel strike layer. If the nickel is actually dissolving away, he said it would need exposure to a suitable, probably acidic, solution and possibly an induced anodic current. He also noted that more detail about the actual failure mode would help diagnose the problem. The thread therefore points away from ordinary ambient conditions and toward surface preparation or chemical/electrical exposure as the real causes.
Q. What type of environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) would cause nickel plating on stainless steel (300 series) to deplete?
Jason David VanMeter
– Rocket Center, West Virginia, USA
2003
A. By “deplete” do you mean it drops off? If so, it is almost certainly a problem of poor pretreatment and the lack of a nickel strike layer. If you mean the nickel dissolves away, then it must be exposed to a suitable (and probably) acidic solution, possibly with an induced anodic current on it. Perhaps more details about what your actual problem is could help us.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003
Ed. note: We try to correct typos when they are obvious, but we don’t know whether Jason meant to type ‘deplate’ or he truly meant
‘deplete’.
A. Nickel plating can also run into problems were it is catalytic like with acetate and some rubber and possibly plastic compounds.Electroless nickel plating would give better protection than electrolytic nickel. Electroless nickel teflon plating can make the part hydrophobic possibly providing even better protection.
Todd Osmolski
– Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
2003
Q. The nickel plating is exhibiting a green powdery substance. Also it is pitting in and around the coils of the spring. Can anyone help me with what may cause this. The spring is not exposed to any chemicals other than acetone
⇦ on
eBay
or
, alcohol and it is stored in a cardboard container. There is no environmentally controlled storage.
Jason David VanMeter [returning]
– Rocket Center, West Virginia
2003
2003
A. Two things to check:
1. Rinsing after plating
2. Acidic fumes in the area
Good Luck!
James Totter, CEF
– Tallahassee, Florida