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Stripping nickel electroplate from Kovar

adv.

Q. How to strip sulfamate nickel from kovar base metal.

Rudy taracena
- South gate, California
February 1, 2022

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We are a captive plating shop that electroplates sulfamate nickel followed by high-purity gold (99.9+ %, < 90 knoop hardness) over a Kovar substrate. When we are required to rework parts, we have great difficulty stripping nickel off the Kovar substrate without etching the base kovar material (29% Ni, 17% Co, 54% Fe). Because of the configuration of our parts and plating process, our nickel plating thicknesses can range from 50 micro-inches in the lowest-current-density areas to 150 micro-inches in the high-current-density areas. Does anyone know of a stripping solution for stripping the nickel plating without etching this base material? The parts also contain glass hermetic seals so fluoride must be avoided.

Thanks,

Steven Carsberg
plating shop - Phoenix, Arizona
2004