Summary for nickel over stainless steel 430 Discussion
Nickel over stainless steel 430 is the focus of this adhesion problem thread, where Krzysztof Idczak says his barrel-plated 4-micron nickel coating fails a bend test despite trying cleaning with and without current, HCl activation, Wood’s nickel strike, and acid nickel. He asks whether HCl is needed before the strike, what Wood’s strike composition is best for this steel and barrel process, and whether a sulfamate nickel strike would help. Nigel D Gill replies that he plates the same alloy on rack work using periodic reverse cleaning, a Wood’s nickel strike made with 30–40 g/L hydrochloric acid and 300–400 g/L nickel chloride hexahydrate, then a cold rinse and sulfamate nickel plate, and reports no adhesion problems. Another contributor says they plate 400-series steel without peeling by using reverse current in the electrocleaner, rinsing twice, activating in 40–50% hydrochloric acid for 2–3 minutes, then a 2-minute Wood’s strike before bright nickel.
Q. Dear helper,
For the new customer I would like to nickel plate small parts in barrel on 4 microns. Base material is a ferritic 430 stainless steel and its composition is: 17%Cr!; 0,3-0.6%Nb, 0%Ni!; <0.75%Si; <0.75Mn. I try to plate its in many different way but I have always adhesion problem of nickel coating after bending test. Among other things I tried cleaning with and without current; activation in 10v/v HCl (25v/v HCl also); Woods Nickel Strike and acid nickel, but without success.
I don’t feel confident if: – activation in HCl is necessary before Wood’s nickel strike; how composition of Wood’s nickel strike is the best for this steal and barrel process; could be sulfamate nickel strike better for this application? If someone knows please help me.
Any other suggestions that may help solve this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Krzysztof Idczak
Production Engineer; Galvanising Plant – Lodz, Lodzkie, Poland
2004
A. We plate the same alloy as yourselves on rack work. Our cleaning is with a periodic reverse cleaner (Alkan DeRust salts) at 80-100 grams per liter at room temperature.Water rinse. Woods nickel strike(30-40 grams per litre hydrochloric acid, 300-400 grams per liter Nickel Chloride Hexahydrate). Cold water rinse, followed by SULPHAMATE NICKEL PLATE. We have experienced no adhesion problems to date.Please give this method a try it might work for you!
Nigel D Gill , B.Sc. MIMF AIEMA MRSC
– Glasgow, Scotland
2004
2004
KRZYSZTOF
A. WE ARE PLATING 400 SERIES STEEL PARTS , WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PEELING PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO TRY REVERSE CURRENT IN ELECTROCLEANER THEN RINSE TWICE THEN GO TO 40-50% BY VOL HYDROCHLORIC ACID AT LEAST 2 TO 3 MINUTES THEN RINSE, WOOD’S STRIKE 2 MINUTES. RINSE THEN GO TO BRIGHT NICKEL TANK.
Popatbhai B. Patel
electroplating consultant – Roseville, Michigan