NICKEL METAL

1.1 History of nickel plating.

• 1841: Nickel plating from Nickel Nitrate solution Ni(NO₃)₂
  1843:  Butter (Germany) using Nickel sulfate NiSO₄
  1869:  Adams (USA) use “double salt” (Nickel Ammonium Sulfate (NH₄)₂Ni(SO₄)₂)
  1978:  Weston (USA) Patented boric acid pH buffer
  1900:  Springer (Germany) Use additional nickel chloride to prevent anode corrosion (positive electrode) with heating the solution.
  1913:  Watts use NiSO solution₄, NiCl₂, H₃BO₃ at 60^oC. The cathode current density (CCD) can be increased by 10 times.
  1940: to present: start of using organic additives. Nickel plating as we know it today.

1.2. Nickel electroplating

• Used as a decorative coating on the outside.
• Good resistance
• Anti-corrosion,
• Repairable and recyclable.

1.2.1 Decorative nickel coating:
Nickel plating can only be

• Oxidized in air
• Application
  • Hooks, door latches
  • Kitchen utensils,
  • Office + other spare parts equipment.

Nickel plating layer on the outside.

• Prevent oxidation,
• Different outer metals will give different colors such as chrome, gold, silver...
• The organic layer covering the brass,

Nickel plating

• Improve gloss
• Increase surface leveling,
• Allows plating onto plastic.

1.2.2 Strong anti-corrosion coating.

• Printing cylinders and plates, flat plates,
• Nickel mesh or nickel plate,
• Base coat for chrome plating

1.2.3 Corrosion Resistance,

• As a protective coating,
• Can be plated with multiple layers of anti-corrosion coating

Plating characteristics may vary depending on operating conditions or chemicals used.

1.2.4 Repair and regeneration

• Apply thick coats if required. Hard chrome is usually applied immediately after nickel.
• Restoring old car engines.

1.3 Function of each component

Nickel Sulfate NiSO₄

• As a source of Ni ions²⁺
• Low cost,
• Stable and highly soluble in solution,

Nickel Chloride NiCl₂

• Anti-anode corrosion
• Increase solution conductivity
• Energy saving

Boric Acid H₃BO₃

• Low pH buffer solution,
• Reduces the possibility of fire,
• Whiter plating.
• Functions as an additive