Nickel plating bath stress measurement and control

How is stress in a Nickel plating bath measured and controlled?

Alfonso Benavides
- Corpus Christi, Texas
2000

Just about everything, from the temperature to the nickel content to the type of salt to the agitation, can affect the stress. But realistically it is usually controlled statically by adjusting the stress-relieving agents (whether they be organic agents in Watts baths or the naturally generated agents in sulfamate baths) and for "on-the-fly" applications by adjusting the current density.

It is measured with spiral contractometers, 'stress tabs' (a Hull Cell ⇦ huh? panel that is masked on one side and serrated into a hair comb shape), or electronic instrumentation for real-time stress control. Type 'stress' into the search engine on our Equipment Directory for further info on two of these approaches.

And don't miss Berl Stein's on line article here, "A Practical Guide to Understanding, Measuring and Controlling Stress in Electroformed Metals".

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
2000

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