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Nickel surface treatment solution wanted

February 24, 2012

Q. Hi

I have a problem where nickel plating surface is not so good. As I think, the nickel process works well with Reel to Reel type plating.

I found nickel plating surface failure in the middle of working, there is no [known] changed working condition..suddenly happened.

Nickel plating surface got so many rounded projections (shown in photo / SEM x 3000).

58321-1 58321-2 58321-3

I don't know how to deal with it. I am waiting for your help!

-working condition-

1. Reel to Reel type / velocity : 4m/min / phosphor bronze
2. Nickel 600 g/l, boric acid 40g/l, Nickel Chloride 6 g/l
3. Solution temp. 55~60 degree
4. Current density 29(A) / voltage 5.5(V)

Hyo Hoon Kim
- Ansan city, Kyounkido, South Korea

Just to clarify: your nickel concentration is 600 g/L? Is that even possible?

John Reid
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
February 27, 2012

February 28, 2012

I checked the concentration of nickel.
600g/L is right..
Nickel bath volume is 300 Liter. Net nickel solution volume is 250 Liter.

Hyo Hoon Kim
- Ansan city, Kyounkido, South Korea

February , 2012

Hello, Hyo.

You undoubtedly mean 600 g/l of nickel sufamate, Ni(NH2SO3)2 or Ni(NH2SO3)2.4H20, not nickel. 600 g/l nickel would indeed be impossible.

This looks like the beginning of nodule growth, which in turn sounds like brightener/addition agent problems, although we probably can't rule out a mechanical failure of a solution jet or something like that. Can you do a Hull Cell ⇦ huh? test or a stress tabs test to see if anything can be learned about what happens at other current densities?

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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