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Cadmium (Cd) plating is coming out "fuzzy"

Hi. I work for a Aerospace company in San Antonio. We are having some issues with how our Cad plating is turning out. We had our tank redone to catch us up to industry standards, however our new specs removed the Nickel sulphate for the Cad bath. Ever since, our plating is coming out a dull gray and fuzzy. No, really, FUZZY! Even with the Chromic Bright dip, I'm embarrassed to put my name on these parts. I'm thinking it's the missing Nickel sulphate, my boss thinks its Sandblasting the parts. Actually I'm thinking its a combination of the two. However, we never had issues with sandblasting when the nickel sulphate was in the solution. What is going on? Hope you can help.

Steve Dalman
plating operator - Texas
July 29, 2009

You need the nickel for a grain refiner. Some of the modern day school boy engineers have determined somehow, some way, that the nickel in the solution which does not plate out lowers rather than enhances the quality and reliability of the deposit for aircraft applications.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

July 31, 2009

adv.
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