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Distinguishing between nickel deposited with Watts bath vs sulfamate bath

I have an electrodeposited nickel sample and want to know whether it was made using a sulfamate bath or a Watts bath. What tests should I order to determine this?

Helen Campanaro Campanaro
Jewelry Artisan - Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
November 1, 2011

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I can't think of an any foolproof way to tell them apart. why do you care?

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
November 7, 2011

I doubt that any shop that is primarily in the jewelry plating business would have a sulfamate bath as it is more expensive and rarely has the brightness of a Watts bath as the internal stress change would prohibit it for any low internal stress application.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
November 8, 2011

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November 9, 2011

Thanks, Jim, but I didn't follow the 2nd half of your answer, starting with "...as the internal stress change..."

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Try metallography (it needs small sample of object).Electron microscopy(REM) can be useful too.Coatings from sulfamate baths must be much softer than that form Watts bath.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
November 10, 2011

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November 10, 2011

Hi Ted,
The assumption was that it was a bright nickel since Watts nickel is frequently bright.
Any thing that you add to sulfamate to either make it hard or bright will destroy the bath for use as a low stress nickel product.
Therefore most platers that have a sulfamate nickel tank will not modify it and the plate tends to be matte.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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November 14, 2011

Thanks Jim.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey