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Nickel plating peels off copper pin heads

2003

We are moulding a 5 mm round tablet of Polycarbonate material into which copper pins of 0.6 mm are embedded (about 6 pins). The copper pins are level with the surface of the tablet. Hence only the pin head is exposed on the top of the surface.

We wish to plate the copper pins with pure nickel, so that we can do aluminum wedge bonding on the same. Plating needs to be done after the pins are moulded in the tablet.

However no matter how many times we have tried the nickel plating just sheds off the pin head. The adhesion of the nickel on the pin head is very poor. Someone has informed that it is not possible plate such a small area (pin head diameter is 0.6 mm). Is that true? Is there a way to plate the nickel pins? Hoping for any help in this matter.

Thank you,

Vineet Rohatgi
Electronics Component Manufacturer - Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Plating copper pins embedded in polycarbonate component is rather difficult. Since the pins are too tiny (0.6 mm dia), you could either use direct nickel pins or SS pins depending on the criticality of application.

K.V. Phadnis
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
2003

First off , I suggest to find out the alloy of the copper. As we find in the Semiconductor area composition of copper requires different activating chemistry.

Louis Hirbour
Anaheim, California, USA
2003