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How to make bright nickel additives

MY NAME IS KHALID MAHMOOD KHAN. I AM THE OWNER OF A MANUFACTURER OF MOTORCYCLE WHEEL FENDERS. I HAVE 2 SECTION UNDER MY STRICT OBSERVATION 1 IS POLISHING (IN PAKISTAN WE HAVE MANUAL POLISHING), 2 IS BRIGHT nickel ELECTROPLATING. NOW I AM WORKING WITH A SUPPLIER WHICH IS BEST IN PAKISTAN NOW. I JUST USE 4 ADDITIVES IN BRIGHT NICKEL. 1 IS FOR SHINING, 2 IS FOR leveling ,3 IS WETTING AGENT AND 4 IS FOR IMPROVE OR INCREASE RUNNING.

I WANT TO KNOW THE BASIC FORMULAS OF THESE ADDITIVES SO I CAN MAKE THEM MYSELF AND REDUCE THE COST PRICE AND COMPETE IN THE LOCAL MARKET
THANKS AND REGARDS

KHALID KHAN KHAN
OWNER , MOTOR CYCLE PARTS MANUFACTURE - LAHORE, PAKISTAN
September 22, 2010

Hi, Kalid.

You can find a pretty complete explanation and particulars about older nickel plating additives like formaldelhyde, saccharin, and coumarin in ASM Metals Handbook, Vol. 5. But modern additives are the result of decades of expensive research, and consequently they are closely-held trade secrets which no one will share with you, cousin. Further, some of these brighteners are not mixtures or reaction products, but are "synthesized from precursors" in the way that plastic is made from petroleum. Synthesis is beyond the capabilities of any plating shop. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 23, 2010

AOA,

No one is going to share with you the formulation. If you want to have the quality product for best result, then you have to rely on the products available in market with different trade names.

Synthesis of brighteners is a very lengthy process, while to make a blend is another thing.

People who are making brighteners which are of course of lower quality buy few additives & then they blend these as per their formulation.

No one in Pakistan is synthesizing brighteners.

Hope ths answers the question.

Ghazala Hussain
- Lahore, Pakistan
October 19, 2010

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