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How to Reduce Nickel Ion Concentration in Nickel Bath

We have an operation to electroplate nickel onto steel plate; the plating solution is mainly nickel sulphate, nickel chloride, boric acid..etc.

It was found that the concentration of nickel ion increases and is causing problem such as pits on the plate. Normally the concentration is control by adding water, but is there any better method than that?

Chi Cheng
- Baltimore, Maryland
2001

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There are many reasons for nickel to pit. Are you using a wetter to reduce surface tension? Are you using proprietary brightener additives? Are you continuously filtering through a carbon pack? It may be organic contamination i.e., drag-in of oils, grease, etc.

If you are buying nickel additives from a vendor, and they said pitting is being caused by high nickel metal in the bath, I suggest you change vendors right away.

Bill Hemp
tech svc. w/ chemical supplier - Grand Rapids, Michigan
2001

If your Ni metal is raising to cathode to anode ratio and cannot just remove - reposition some anode, you might want to look into some insolable anodes.

Chris Snyder
plater - Charlotte, North Carolina
2001