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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Watts Nickel Bath Info

Q. We have 3 drums of surplus nickel strike solution (we discontinued the process). I need to know the makeup of a typical Watts-type nickel plating solution for profiling for disposal. Or if somebody wants the solution...it uses Rolite nickel salts and you can have it and pay only the freight.

Rick A
- Gaffney, South Carolina
2000

A. In short:

Nickel sulphate hexahydrate: 330 g/l
Nickel Chloride hexahydrate: 45 g/l
Boric acid: 38 g/

There may also be some organic additives in small quantities, like wetters, brighteners, etc.

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
2000

Q. What would be the chemical equation for nickel electroplating with nickel watts bath?

Shanmuga Nathan
student - Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
January 23, 2008

"Science of Leonardo"

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. The simplest answer is Ni⁺⁺ + 2e^- --> Ni⁰, Shanmuga. But I may not fully understand your question. 'Equation', like other words, means little except in context.

One of the most fascinating things that I've read recently is "The Science of Leonardo" by Fritjof Capra .

Davinci was perhaps the greatest genius of all time, and he believed that the best "equation" for a horse was his pencil sketch of one. It took me quite a while to "get it", even with Capra carefully leading me, but 'equation' actually means a simplification that helps us understand while not losing too much. Hopefully the 'equation' for nickel plating which I offered you, "dissolved positively charged nickel ions + electrons = nickel metal", is the equation you are looking for. Good luck!

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
January 23, 2008

⇦ (tip: readers rarely show interest in abstract questions, but people's actual situations usually prompt responses)

Q. Could you suggest a best Nickel, manganese, cobalt plating bath/electrolyte composition over copper substrate. Also, its preparation method like removing of impurities.

Kindly help...

Chandrasekar M S
student - Mumbai, India
February 22, 2011

"Electrodeposition of alloys: principles & Practice"
by Abner Brenner

on AbeBooks

or eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Hi Chandrasekar. Please introduce yourself and your actual situation because I hate to "talk down" to people who may be far more knowledgable than me, but without an introduction from you there is just no way for us to have any idea what you know vs. what you want explained :-)

Different metals have different electromotive potentials, which makes alloy plating of this sort very difficult and usually impossible. It is not a matter of mixing a few chemicals in proper ratio; rather, at best, extremely tight control of pH, temperature, and concentrations is required. And the biggest point is that appropriate complexing agents must be found, and sometimes they don't exist. Brenner's "Electrodeposition of Alloys" runs to 1400 pages but barely scratches the surface for this alloy :-(

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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