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Setting Up a Small Nickel Plating Operation

Q. Hello electroplaters,

I have a little question on how to prepare a nickel bath.
Is it important to respect an order in the ingredients to add to prepare this Nickel bath.

When I prepare a nickel bath, generally I add the chemicals in this order:
- Water (heat at around 50 °C)
- Dissolve boric acid
- Dissolve nickel chloride
- Dissolve nickel sulphate
- Activated Carbon treatment
- Add additives

Do you think it is right? I tell you that because I see in a technical paper of some nickel bath, it is specified to add the chemicals in this orders:
- Water (heat at around 50 °C)
- Dissolve nickel sulphate
- Dissolve nickel chloride
- Dissolve boric acid
- Activated Carbon treatment
- Add additives

Do you think it is very different to add boric acid in first or in last in the bath? Could you please let me know what you do and what is the best way?

Thank you in advance

Thomas Perrier
- Berne, Switzerland
January 24, 2022

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I work for a company that has a small metallography lab. We are gearing up for an evaluation of Plat-Aluminide coatings. Part of the requirement for the preparation process is a nickel plating that will help ensure the integrity of coating during the evaluation process. I am trying to set up a very small plating operation that will be used solely for this evaluation. The amount of plating that will be done is a very small amount and the samples that will be plated will roughly 1" X 1". I have a recipe for the solution including Boric Acid, Nickel Chloride, Nickel Sulfamate and a Wetting Agent. There is no call out explaining the wetting agent so I am having a hard time locating exactly what I need. Plus I am having a time locating a supplier in the Oklahoma City area. I would like to speak to someone who can give me some helpful advice on this project to help me better prepared.

Trey Clark
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
2000

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You'll typically evolve hydrogen at the workpiece's high current density areas when plating Ni; the wetter prevents the hydrogen bubbles from adhering to the work surface and causing a pit. I do not know the Oklahoma city area, so I can't help you there.

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
2000

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Definitely go with a supplier. There are several good companies for nickel plating chemistries and they should be able to answer all your questions and set you up. Try A Brite as they are out of Dallas. You may also look up McGean-Rohco, Atotech, etc... Good luck. Megan Pellenz - Syracuse, New York 2000 For this tiny amount,I would contact a couple of the brush plating companies that advertise at this site and buy a gal of sulfamate nickel solution. You could ask them to sell you a 1 oz bottle or so of the antipit. The vendors that I am aware of, do not sell in this tiny a quantity. Set this up in a conventional tank setup. Use SD nickel if you can get a tiny amount. If all else fails, use a chunk of 400 nickel rod. Do not forget that the cleaning and activation steps are as important as the plating steps. James Watts - Navarre, Florida 2000

About your wetting agent---, This may sound silly, but, why don't just you ask some of these suppliers to send you a SAMPLE of their product and perhaps get an ounce or two?

Norman V. Engelhardt
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
2001