Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Tin-Lead PLATING PEELS OFF FROM NICKEL SUBSTRATE
Q. MY BASE MATERIAL IS NICKEL PLATED AND IT GOES TO OTHER PRODUCTION PROCESSES, AND THEN IT WILL BE ELECTROPLATED WITH SN/PB 90% THE RESULT IS THE SN/PB COATING PEEL OFF OR AREAS OF NICKEL IS EXPOSED.
QUESTION:
1.HOW TO PRETREAT THE NICKEL TO IMPROVE SN/PB PLATING
2.HOW TO ACTIVATE THE NICKEL
3.HOW TO CHECK THE PROBLEM
- Manila, Laguna, Philippines
2003
A. Please give more details about the nickel plating; for example, is it bright nickel or a simple watts type bath? This will greatly influence any treatments. You must also supply details of your current pretreatment and the type of Pb/Sn bath you use. The more details you supply, the better the answers will be - I do not know anyone who can read the minds of others, especially over the Internet.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003
A. Assuming the Tin/Lead plating bath is the old fashion fluoborate formulation, then:
(1) Clean the old nickel CATHODICALLY in a steel electrocleaner formulation at about 12 oz/gal, 50 amps/sq ft,
(2) Make the part cathodic in 50% Fluoboric Acid using bagged carbon anodes, do not rinse
(3) enter "hot" into the tin/lead plating solution. To test: hammer, tape, bend, scrape, etc.
Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services
Garner, North Carolina
2003
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