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Lead Content Found in Nickel Plating
October 23, 2012
Q. I am using Barrett SN and SNR-24. My customers have done tests of our plating in Asia and have found in their two tests that 4180 mg/kg and 82000 mg/kg of lead is contained in the plating. These tests were performed using IEC 62321 testing procedures. We are plating pure tungsten parts and solder with a lead free solder from Kester. We use DI water in our plating bath and I am confused as to where this lead could be coming from. Any idea or thoughts on the topic would be much appreciated
Cameron KivelaProcess Engineer - Boulder, Colorado, United States
A. Those levels are so high the hardly can they come from a purified plating solution like that. My guess is someone used the wrong solder or the lab mixed the results.
G. Marrufo - Mexico
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
A. 82000 mg/kg is a LOT of lead. I don't see where that could come from. 1/100 that amount co-deposited with the nickel would yield a black, brittle, non-adherent deposit. Before you go further, please have a sample tested by an independent USA lab.
Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
A. Check the additives (including NiCl and boric) and anodes. The fact that the plating is done in Asia makes them somewhat suspect.
James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
adv.
