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Acetylene as Semi Bright Nickel Plating additive

My inquiry is about leveling action of 1, 4, Butyne-diol for semi bright nickel bath.
Could ve apply acetylene to semi nickel bath to get the similar results as above mentioned compound is triple bond compound derived from acetylene.

Ishtiq Hussain Siddiqui
ENGINEERING & METAL WORKS - Karachi, Pakistan
2006

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2006

Good afternoon:

I don't know about the leveling effects of acetylene in nickel baths, but there are a couple points worth considering:
First,acetylene is a gas which is only slightly soluble in water, while butynediol is a solid which is soluble in water. You might not be able to get enough acetylene in solution to test your theory.
Second, acetylene is a HIGHLY flammable gas. It is so dangerous that it is not shipped in its pure form, but dissolved in acetone for transport instead. I have this picture in my mind of someone adding acetylene to their bath, having it build up to dangerous levels, a rack lowering onto a saddle, spark, and...boom!

Steve Bizub
- St Louis, Missouri

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2006

DO NOT TRY THIS.
Acetylene forms compounds with metal salts which are unstable and highly explosive.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England

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An interesting idea but not one to be undertaken lightly. Firstly, acetylene is a highly flammable gas and secondly it can form high unstable and explosive compounds with some metals. In these days of terrorism scares, I would strongly suggest you do not try this at home!

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2006