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Aluminum Desmutting Solutions

I have read much information about the use and need for the desmutting step. Several materials have been suggested. Can you advise what are the pros and cons of Ferric sulphate vs bifluorides are in a nitric acid dip. Can you describe the chemistry involved?. Are any alternate iron salts utilized? Thanks for the feedback Dick

Dick Wills
- Knoxville TN
1999

Ferric Sulphate, sulfuric acid, and ammonium bifluoride make a very good desmutting agent for plating electroless nickel on aluminum. Clepo makes a very good one. I have used it for several years. If you make it up consistently, it can be maintained with a hydrometer and a percentage concentration chart supplied by Clepo.

Phil Pace
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
1999

2000
Actane 70 is a very good desmutting solution.

25% water
25% sulfuric
50% nitric
250g/L Actane 70

I believe the product is from Enthone or Macdermid.

Jason
- OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA

I would like to know if you have procedure for analysis sulfuric acid , nitric acid and actane-70 of actane solution.

Regards

Jean-Pierre Belair
Electroplating - Montreal, Qc, Canada
2005

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