The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Electroplating of nickel on copper plate

Dear Sir,
I am new to electroplating. I am trying to do nickel electroplating on copper plate. I made the 250 ml solution electrolyte ready as per Watt's bath composition, dissolving Nicl2, NiSO4 and boric acid. Then filtered the solution in the filter which I fabricated in the workshop. I used charcoal filled in the filter which is used for the filtering. After the filtering and cleaning of components and the bath, I conducted the electroplating. I got much black colour on the copper plate. This black may be carried from the charcoal. If so how can I eliminate this black? and also the Nickel plating obtained was also slightly offcolour. Kindly tell me a solution.

SUNIL KUMAR SUKUMARA MENON
Research scholar - KHARAGPUR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
2007

The best solution I can give you is to take a professional course in electroplating or get several good books on the subject and study them thoroughly. Then, go to a friendly plater in your area (if you can find one) and ask for advise. There are too many factors and details about this art-science.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2007