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High purity nickel balls for electroplating

I produce high purity nickel wire, which can be manufactured into balls. There are hints that high purity nickel balls are used for electroplating in the electronics industry. Compared with squares cut from cathode plates or s-rounds, balls have a greater surface and should have a better fill factor in racks. So the use of balls may be advantageous.

In which industries are nickel balls actually used for plating? What is their diameter?

Theodor Stuth
Manufacturer - Neuss, Germany
January 16, 2011

At least one company sells what they call pellets. They vary is size from large BB's to a good sized marble. Typical dia is 0.5". The ones that I used were SD nickel. They are great for small or conforming anode baskets.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
January 19, 2011

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Perhaps you need to review your numbers or explain your situation in more detail. According to basic geometry, the sphere has the least surface to volume ratio. Why do you say yours have greater surface than squares or S-rounds? On the other hand, high purity nickel is theoretically desirable in terms of purity of the cathode deposit, but in practice requires a considerable amount of a halogen to promote its dissolution and avoid polarization. Have you considered this or do you have a different approach?
G. Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
January 20, 2011