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Q&As since 1989


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Checking of Leveler Amount

How can I check the leveler of nickel bath is normal or not?

Huseyin Keskin
metal spectacle manufacturing - Istanbul, Turkey
2004

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Mr Huseyin

Use a Hull cell . Plate a panel of brass at 1 ampere for 10 minutes. Next panel of brass should be evenly scratched with a 400 grit emery paper and plated. See how well the scratches are filled. This will help set the leveler in the bath . It is possible to see the effects of adjustments outside the bath and decide what to do.

Regards

Asif Nurie [deceased]
- New Delhi, India
With deep regret we sadly advise that Asif passed away on Jan 24, 2016
2004

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2004

Nickel leveling agents also effect the internal stress of the deposit. Once you obtain the desired finish, take a sample, about for liters, put it in a beaker [beakers on eBay or Amazon] and measure the internal stress. Use this as your standard, the more leveling agent in the bath the more compressive the deposit. So as you plate out the leveling agent, the bath will go more tensile.

The most common method of determining deposit stress is the Brenner-Sendorhoff Spiral Contractometer. Most Plating supply houses carry them. There are also electronic stress meters, much more accurate, but they are a little harder to find.

Anthony J. Covey
electroformer - Corona, California