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How to Do Electroless Tin Plating Over Electroless Nickel

September 19, 2008

I currently do electroless plating nickel on ceramic tubes. I want to electroless plate tin over the nickel. Can anyone tell me how to do this or where to find information.

Brett Michaud
employee - Portland, Oregon

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September 22, 2008

Since the part is very hot coming out of the electroless nickel it may be partially passivating, so, lets go back thru a quick nickel chloride strike (Woods) and then the immersion tin.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

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October 4, 2008

Immersion tin as far as I know requires a copper substrate for the reaction to occur. Without copper, no replacement reaction occurs. Also, as opposed to electroless or autocatalytic deposition which continues to plate as long as there is a catalytic surface provided, tin only deposits as long as copper is exposed - once covered, reaction shuts down. Therefore, immersion tin is VERY THIN like 10 millionths of an inch.

Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Anoplate Corporation

Syracuse, New York