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Do we need a separate Nickel strike?
Hello, we are wanting to plate some stainless steel tube with a nickel chloride solution at a pH of 5.9. This bath does have tin in it to corrode the nickel so as to give it a black look. We currently do not do a nickel strike on copper and we have had success plating flat stainless steel. The surface is 8 RA and the material is 316 grade 8 stainless steel. Do you think this is sufficient or should we use a strike?
Timothy VillalvaOp.Mgr. of a Manufactuer - Jacksonville, Florida, USA
August 10, 2009
Hi, Timothy. Whether plating the black nickel directly on stainless will prove sufficient is a matter of your application, and some testing. But it is not ideal by any means, and I think the rejects will cost you more than the nickel strike.
Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted can be retained for immediate
answers or long term project help
August 11, 2009
If you want your coating to be adherent, you will need use a nickel strike on stainless steel.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
August 15, 2009
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