TOC Key to Bright Nickel Purity

摘要

Today's demands for high quality bright, leveled and ductile nickel deposits are greater than ever. Automotive and the motorcycle industries have set the pace for this increased quality. One has only to look at a new Harley Davidson and calculate the square footage of nickel chromium it displays to prove the point. They know that nickel chromium sells bikes. In addition to factory bright work, very few bikes leave the dealer without adding an additional USD2,000.00 to USD3,000.00 of plated accessories. Square footage has increased on automobiles, the trend is continuing. Top line freight carrying tractors sport large nickel chromium grills. This backs up a phrase I have used for years "Nickel Is Class". Producing this high quality requires that plating baths be in chemical balance and a high state of purity. The inorganic balance is simple; however the organic purity has always been a guessing game. We know that an organically clean bath produces the ideal deposit. As contamination increases, efficiencies decrease. For metallics, removal is simple, oxidize, precipitate or electroplate out. Organic contamination presents a more complicated problem. Organic contaminants are difficult if not impossible to identify. The source of origin may be from insufficient cleaning, impacted polishing compound remaining in holes and crevasses, and soils on the parts that are carried into plating baths. In addition to drag-in contaminants, there are break-down products produced by electrolyses of additives.