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What start-up procedure will you recommend for a bright nickel sulfamate bath after an idle period of more than 48 hrs

I am currently trouble shooting a Customer's bright nickel sulfamate bath. This bath has been operational with heavy loads for two months. Then, it went idle for 74 hours. After that, the line started to see dark deposit after gold plating process. The XRF readings showed deposit thickness between 90 to 130 µinch. The hull cell test panel showed no deposit on the low current density area. Please give your thoughts on what could have caused this.

Thanks,

Terry S. Chavez
Consultancy - Manila, Philippines
2006

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Hi Terry,
Normally it isn't necessary to implement a "start up procedure" in sulfamate Ni, especially after just 48 hours down time. Do a complete bath analysis and check the PH. Low thickness readings in the hull cell tells me there is something in the bath that is out of whack. It sounds like the Ni metal concentration is too low or the bath got contaminated somehow. Process of elimination steps have usually worked for me in troubleshooting a bath. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
process engineer - Malone, New York
2006

Sounds like boiler chemicals or chrome contamination. I have started up sulfamate tanks that have been down for a couple of months with no problem.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2006

Please provide more info: solution parameters: pH, baumé/sp.gr., Ni conc. Boric Acid conc., plating parameters, Temp, is hull cell dull/black or bright/black?

Teresita Lazo-Molina
- Hawthorne, California, USA
2006