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Electroless gold peel off from Wood's nickel

Dear there, I found the problem as in the title. the whole story is that a electroless gold finish is required to a 'old' nickel part. Prior to gold plating, a Woods nickel strike was carried out. The nickel layer from the strike sticked very well to the old nickel. However, we found that the gold layer can be peeled off from the 'fresh' woods nickel.

I am wondering whether electroless gold can only be used together with electroless nickel (with the crucial role of phosphorous). Could you please help me if you can? Many thanks

James Zhu
Research scientist - UK
2007

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Are you leaving chloride residues from the strike? Try some sort of neutralization to get rid of the chloride before going into the gold. 4 oz/gal room temperature baking soda [on eBay or Amazon] might work. We think the chloride is attacking the gold solution at the metal interface.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

2007

Another possibility is you are letting the strike passivate by taking too long to go from the strike rinses to the gold. It should be measured in seconds, not minutes.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2007