Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Charcoal filtering nickel sulfamate solution?

Other than removing anti-pit does it remove anything else that the bath needs?
If I use a charcoal filter and do the anti-pit test and adjust as necessary, am I good to go again, or will I need to check anything else?

Ed Schuster

2006

---

First of two simultaneous responses --

It removes most organic compounds that are invariably in the drag in. It also removes some but far from all of the anti-pit breakdown products.
You should do your routine testing after a carbon treatment, but normally there is vey little change unless you have done a peroxide or permanganate or high pH treatment also.

James Watts
Navarre, Florida
2006

---

Second of two simultaneous responses -- 2006

Hi Ed,
As long as the bath does not contain any other organic additives, the addition of the anti-pit is all you should have to add back. I like to do a full analysis on the bath after carbon polishing, just to be safe.

Good Luck!

Mark Baker

---

My nickel parts are a little more brittle than they were at first. I plate only fiberglass parts painted with silver paint. My concern is some of the silver paint may be coming off, would this contaminate the bath and make the parts a little more brittle?
Is there a better way of making fiberglass conductive that is better for the bath than silver paint?

Ed Schuster

2006

Maybe some binders or other components in your silver paint are more a concern that is the silver. Make sure you cure them off before plating.

Guillermo Marrufo

2006