Nickel Sulfate, Nickel Chloride and Nickel Sulphamat Bath

Many other types of nickel plating solution have been advocated, mostly based on nickel sulfate, although nickel chloride and nickel sulphamat bath can be worked more quickly. All these yield matt deposits and are called dull plating baths. The electroplated coating from the Watts bath is smooth but of a matt, pearly milk-white texture and must be mechanically polished if, as is usual, a high luster is required. This process is called coloring or color buffing, and is fairly readily accomplished by pressing each part of the surface of the article against a revolving wheel built up of soft cloth discs. The wheel is dressed with very fine lime or similar powder bound in grease, the powder flowing or smearing rather than abrading it.

The major modern change in the practice of nickel plating has been the use of brightening and leveling additions to the nickel plating solution of the Watts bath type. There are complex organic substances which, although present in solution only in small quantities, are adsorbed on the growing electroplate and modify its metallurgical structure. Not only is the size of the crystalline grains in it reduced, but the additions have a specific effect of restraining the growth at any place which tends to grow out above the general level. In this way the electroplate is kept microscopically smooth and hence it is bright and lustrous as plated. It is also much harder and more wear-resisting which an important advantage in service. The advantage to the electroplater is not only that the cost and labor of mechanically polishing is eliminated, but also that the articles can proceed direct to chromium plating without unracking or rewiring. Rinsing and drying must, however, be carefully carried out to avoid water staining.

The operation and control of nickel plating calls for much care and experience. Temperature and clarity of solution, and the pH value must be constantly checked, e.g. twice daily; analysis for the main constituents, especially nickel is required at longer intervals. Nickel plating solutions are especially sensitive to trace contamination by trace of traces of copper, zinc and chromium, and by organic materials of a colloidal or glue like nature. The inorganic contaminants ca be eliminated by long continued plating onto a piece of scrap sheet metal at a low current density; organic materials are removed by oxidation with permanganate or by absorption on activated charcoal.

In addition to its use as undercoating to chromium, nickel plating is often used alone for protection of chemical plant and food processing equipment, or for parts, such as the electrodes of thermionic valves, which must be protected from scaling by the action of heat.

Thicker deposits of electrodeposited nickel are sometimes applied to worn or wrongly machined steel parts to restore them to size or make them oversize. In such cases great attention must be paid to the preliminary etching process, to ensure good adhesion, and to the mechanical properties of the electrodeposited coating. The deposit can be confined to specific areas of the steel part by applying a thick layer of adherent and chemically neutral wax to the remaining area. This is called stopping off and is also used to prevent unwanted plating on the shafts of suspension jigs, etc. in decorative plating.

Other posts:

• Type of Nickel Plating
• Copper electroplating practice