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Nickel electroplating
Coating a surface with Nickel using an electrolytic process

Nickel electroplating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of nickel onto a metal object. The nickel layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, wear resistance, or used to build up worn or undersized parts for salvage purposes.

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Overview

Nickel electroplating is a process of depositing nickel onto a metal part. Parts to be plated must be clean and free of dirt, corrosion, and defects before plating can begin.3 To clean and protect the part during the plating process, a combination of heat treating, cleaning, masking, pickling, and etching may be used.4 Once the piece has been prepared it is immersed into an electrolyte solution and is used as the cathode. The nickel anode is dissolved into the electrolyte to form nickel ions (Ni2+). Just like in other electrodeposition processes, the ions travel through the solution and deposit on the cathode.56

The anode efficiency for nickel dissolution is close to 100%, unless the anode becomes passive due to problems with the process, in which case the efficiency drops to 0. The cathode efficiency depends on the process and varies between 90 and 97%. Due to this mismatch, during the plating the nickel concentration in the solution and the pH will slowly rise.7 The process takes minutes to hours depending on the current density and the intended thickness of the plating.8

History

Nickel electroplating was developed in the first half of the 19th century, with notable experiments made by Golding Bird (1837) and nickel nitrate patent by Joseph Shore (1840). The first practical recipe, an aqueous solution of nickel and ammonium sulfates, was invented by Böttger in 1843 and was in use for 70 years.9 The commercial success was achieved by Isaac Adams Jr., whose patent for a solution of nickel ammonium sulfate, while similar to Böttger's, had neutral pH that made the process easier to control. Adams enjoyed a near-monopoly in nickel plating from 1869 to 1886, when the consumption of nickel for plating reached 135 tons.10 In the US, Remington tried to use the nickel ammonium chloride solution (1868), in the process establishing the anode construction in the form of a platinum basket filled with nickel pieces,11 Edward Weston initiated the use of boric acid (patent issued in 1878),12 Bancroft figured out the role of chlorides in dissolving the anode (1906).1314 Finally, Oliver P. Watts in 1916 established the Watts bath, variations of which are still widely used for decorative plating, with sulfamate solutions challenging it in the engineering applications.15

Types and chemistry

Watts baths

A Watts bath, named for its inventor Oliver Patterson Watts, is an aqueous electrolyte solution for plating nickel from a nickel anode. It can deposit both bright and semi-bright nickel. Bright nickel is typically used for decorative purposes and corrosion protection. Semi-bright deposits are used for engineering applications where high corrosion resistance, ductility or electrical conductivity is important, and a high luster is not required.161718

Bath composition

Chemical NameFormulaBright19Semi-bright20
MetricUSMetricUS
Nickel sulfateNiSO4·6H2O150–300 g/L20–40 oz/gal225–300 g/L30–40 oz/gal
Nickel chlorideNiCl2·6H2O60–150 g/L8–20 oz/gal30–45 g/L4–6 oz/gal
Boric acidH3BO337–52 g/L5–7 oz/gal37–52 g/L5–7 oz/gal

Operating conditions

  • Temperature: 40-65 °C
  • Cathode current density: 2-10 A/dm2
  • pH: 4.5-5

Brighteners

  • Carrier brighteners (e.g. paratoluene sulfonamide, benzene sulphonic acid) in concentration 0.75-23 g/L. Carrier brighteners contain sulfur providing uniform fine grain structure of the nickel plating.21
  • Levelers, second class brighteners (e.g. allyl sulfonic acid, formaldehyde chloral hydrate) in concentration 0.0045-0.15 g/L produce (in combination with carrier brighteners) brilliant deposit.22
  • Auxiliary brighteners (e.g. sodium allyl sulfonate, pyridinium propyl sulfonate) in concentration 0.075-3.8 g/L.23
  • Inorganic brighteners (e.g. cobalt, zinc) in concentration 0.075-3.8 g/L. Inorganic brighteners impart additional lustre to the coating.24

Type of the added brighteners and their concentrations determine the deposit appearance: brilliant, bright, semi-bright, satin.

Nickel sulfamate

Sulfamate nickel plating is used for many engineering applications. It is deposited for dimensional corrections, abrasion and wear resistance, high efficiency coating and corrosion protection. It is also used as an undercoat for chromium.2526

Bath composition

Chemical nameFormulaBath concentration27
MetricUS
Nickel sulfamateNi(SO3NH2)2300-450 g/L40–60 oz/gal
Nickel chlorideNiCl2·6H2O0-30 g/L0–4 oz/gal
Boric acidH3BO330-45 g/L4–6 oz/gal

Operating conditions

  • Temperature: 40-60 °C28
  • Cathode current density: 2-25 A/dm229
  • pH: 3.5-4.530

All-chloride

All-chloride solutions allow for the deposition of thick nickel coatings. They do this because they run at low voltages. However, the deposition has high internal stresses.3132

Chemical nameFormulaBath concentration33
Nickel chlorideNiCl2·6H2O30–40 oz/gal
Boric acidH3BO34–4.7 oz/gal

Sulfate-chloride

A sulfate-chloride bath operates at lower voltages than a Watts bath and provide a higher rate of deposition. Although internal stresses are higher than the Watts bath, they are lower than that of an all-chloride bath.3435

Chemical nameFormulaBath concentration36
Nickel sulfateNiSO4·6H2O20–30 oz/gal
Nickel chlorideNiCl2·6H2O20–30 oz/gal
Boric acidH3BO34–6 oz/gal

All-sulfate

An all-sulfate solution is used for electro-depositing nickel where the anodes are insoluble. For example, plating the insides of steel pipes and fittings may require an insoluble anode.3738

Chemical nameFormulaBath concentration39
Nickel sulfateNiSO4·6H2O30–53 oz/gal
Boric acidH3BO34–6 oz/gal

Hard nickel

A hard nickel solution is used when a high tensile strength and hardness deposit is required.4041

Chemical nameFormulaBath concentration42Metric
Nickel sulfateNiSO4·6H2O24 oz/gal179.7g/L
Ammonium chlorideNH4Cl3.3 oz/gal24.7 g/L
Boric acidH3BO34 oz/gal29.96 g/L

Black nickel

"Black nickel" is a dark coating that consists primarily of nickel sulfide and metallic zinc and nickel.43 It is typically plated on brass, bronze, or steel in order to produce a non-reflective surface.44 This type of plating is used for decorative and military purposes and does not offer much protection.454647

Chemical nameFormulaBath concentration48
Nickel ammonium sulfateNiSO4·(NH4)2SO4·6H2O8 oz/gal
Zinc sulfateZnSO41.0 oz/gal
Sodium thiocyanateNaCNS2 oz/gal

Applications

Decorative coating

Decorative bright nickel is used in a wide range of applications. It offers a high luster finish, corrosion protection, and wear resistance. In the automotive industry bright nickel can be found on bumpers, rims, exhaust pipes and trim. It is also used for bright work on bicycles and motorcycles. Other applications include hand tools and household items such as lighting and plumbing fixtures, wire racks, firearms, and appliances.49

Modern coating technology makes deposited nickel to appear mirror-bright with no need of polishing, multi-layer applications are frequently used to improve the corrosion resistance of coated steel, zinc, copper, aluminum, and other metals. In order to prevent tarnishing, decorative electroplated nickel is typically coated with a thin layer of chromium.50

Engineering applications

Engineering nickel is used where brightness is not desired. Non decorative applications provide wear and corrosion protection as well as low-stress buildups for dimensional recovery,5152 nickel or its nickel alloys usually having matte or dull finish.53 The method can be used for making nanocomposite wear resistance coatings.5455

Nickel electroforming has nickel plating applied for fabrication of nickel products. For example, nickel can be deposited onto a mandrel and then lifted off the latter, creating a nickel-only part.56

Nickel is also used as an undercoat for chrome or gold plating, as it improves adhesion and the longevity of the final layer.5758 In manufacturing and repair, nickel electroplating can also restore worn parts to their original dimensions, allowing them to function effectively without replacement.59

See also

Sources

References

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  2. Ian Rose; Clive Whittington; William Lo (2022). "Nickel Plating Handbook" (PDF). Nickel Institute. https://nickelinstitute.org/media/lxxh1zwr/2023-nickelplatinghandbooka5_printablepdf.pdf ↩

  3. "MIL-P-27418 PLATING SOFT NICKEL ELECTRO-DEPOSITED BATH". www.everyspec.com. Retrieved 2018-02-25. http://www.everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-SPECS-MIL-P/MIL-P-27418_8794/ ↩

  4. "QQ-N-290 A NICKEL PLATING". www.everyspec.com. Retrieved 2018-02-25. http://www.everyspec.com/FED_SPECS/Q/QQ-N-290A_22425/ ↩

  5. Di Bari 2011, p. 80. - Di Bari, George A. (14 February 2011). "Electrodeposition of nickel" (PDF). In Mordechay Schlesinger; Milan Paunovic (eds.). Modern Electroplating (5 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 79–114. ISBN 978-1-118-06314-9. OCLC 1037918105. http://www.tuks.nl/pdf/Reference_Material/Electrolytic_Caps_and_Super_Caps/Di%20Bari%20-%20Electrodeposition%20of%20Nickel.pdf ↩

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  8. Di Bari 2011, p. 82. - Di Bari, George A. (14 February 2011). "Electrodeposition of nickel" (PDF). In Mordechay Schlesinger; Milan Paunovic (eds.). Modern Electroplating (5 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 79–114. ISBN 978-1-118-06314-9. OCLC 1037918105. http://www.tuks.nl/pdf/Reference_Material/Electrolytic_Caps_and_Super_Caps/Di%20Bari%20-%20Electrodeposition%20of%20Nickel.pdf ↩

  9. Di Bari 2011, p. 79. - Di Bari, George A. (14 February 2011). "Electrodeposition of nickel" (PDF). In Mordechay Schlesinger; Milan Paunovic (eds.). Modern Electroplating (5 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 79–114. ISBN 978-1-118-06314-9. OCLC 1037918105. http://www.tuks.nl/pdf/Reference_Material/Electrolytic_Caps_and_Super_Caps/Di%20Bari%20-%20Electrodeposition%20of%20Nickel.pdf ↩

  10. Di Bari 2011, p. 80. - Di Bari, George A. (14 February 2011). "Electrodeposition of nickel" (PDF). In Mordechay Schlesinger; Milan Paunovic (eds.). Modern Electroplating (5 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 79–114. ISBN 978-1-118-06314-9. OCLC 1037918105. http://www.tuks.nl/pdf/Reference_Material/Electrolytic_Caps_and_Super_Caps/Di%20Bari%20-%20Electrodeposition%20of%20Nickel.pdf ↩

  11. Di Bari 2011, p. 80. - Di Bari, George A. (14 February 2011). "Electrodeposition of nickel" (PDF). In Mordechay Schlesinger; Milan Paunovic (eds.). Modern Electroplating (5 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 79–114. ISBN 978-1-118-06314-9. OCLC 1037918105. http://www.tuks.nl/pdf/Reference_Material/Electrolytic_Caps_and_Super_Caps/Di%20Bari%20-%20Electrodeposition%20of%20Nickel.pdf ↩

  12. Dubpernell 1959, p. 39. - Dubpernell, George (1959). "The story of nickel plating" [reprinted in Plating & Surface Finishing, April 2006, pp. 34-43] (PDF). Plating. 46 (6): 599–616. https://pdf4pro.com/cdn/a-look-back-in-plating-amp-surface-finishing-281ac.pdf ↩

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  26. "We'll find the optimal approach to coating your parts. No one can beat Bales' wide array of engineered coatings and finishes". http://www.balesmold.com/sulfamate.htm ↩

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