Cleaning Wire to Mirror Finish

We draw Nickel alloy wires. For example one wire has 52% Nickel and balance iron. This is used for glass to metal seals. The requirement is that wire should be very clean(White Towel clean, means no mark on a white towel if pulled through wire),bright. We have tried cleaning by alkaline or acid process but could not bring the result. I guess electro cleaning, coil to coil can be a solution.

Can any one help me suggesting process, solutions, current etc.We have lot of experience in wire plating.

Kamal Baid
Plating shop owner - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
May 3, 2009

I think that you need to first look at the drawing compound that was used. If it is organic, I think that you will need to use an organic solvent, possibly followed by a caustic or electro cleaning.
You may be able to help yourself by rigging a wiper pad with continuous new white cloth to remove the bulk of the drawing compound as it comes out of the die.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
June 22, 2009

Stoddard Solvent, also known as white spirits, is a form of solvent I recommend. I used to swear by the stuff when I worked with copper and aluminum draw.

You may want to look into a continuous spray or sonicator operation for this organic operation. Agitation is imperative to break up the boundary layer, and allow the oil to diffuse into the solvent.

Robert H Kinner
- Toledo, Ohio
July 30, 2009

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