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Note: Unfortunately, it is momentarily again tried to install acetic acid-containing processes in the market, of which nickel dispenser is nickel acetate. Because of the usual hydrogen ion development the nickel acetate converts in the context of the continuing regeneration to an increasing degree to acetic acid which increasingly and with an increasing working temperature escapes from the electroless nickel bath. With working temperatures of 85 °C and 90 °C the acetic acid is literally “driven out” of the electroless nickel bath. See the consequences under “cul-de-sac”.                                                                28 August 2006 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08/2006 Processes with permanent and above average acetic acid odour belong, only because of the dangers for the operating personal, like irritations of the eye-, nose- and throat mucosals as well as a bleeding nose, to the past. As a rule fort his electrolyte it will come to an exceedance of the MAK-value of 25 mg/m3 air. The argument that exhaust air/exhaust will „do it“ is an error because the Abdunstung of the electrolyte film will continue taking place when taking out the surfaces out of the electrolyte. The named data for the MAK-value will in the working room as well as in further, in the environment located, rooms be exceeded by a multiple.
10/2006 An electroless nickel electrolyte must continously be filtrated - 10 to 20 times an hour. Extreme mistakes which have consequences make it possible that plant manufacturers develop when the filter pot will either be equipped with PP carridges or with a filter bag. Nickel- or dirt particles will continue working there because of the constant electrolyte contact despite any possible protective current. The particles will only be hold back and will not be removed from the system. It is more critical when the filter bag is fully dipped and within the bath. Occasional failure of the bath is thus pre-programmed. The electroless nickel supplier is quoted who is then due to lacking bath stability questioned. Relief is then produced by free hanging filter bags without external elektrolyte contact, either in a overflow compartment or in a so-called „Rucksack principle“. Here the operation personal can immediately interfere. Filter cartridges or filter bags installed in the filter pot  are a „time bomb“.
12/2006 Electrodialysis. Advantages and disadvantages. At the moment there are 5 companies in Germany who apply this technique. In the Asian area, in which they nickel plate a lot, this principle is hardly used due to specific local circumstances. Products accumulating salt will be removed during the electroless nickel plating from the system. The aim is to achieve more constant deposits and conncted with this more constant layer properties as well as higher MTO figures. The precondition is the application of a plant technique that is intensive regarding the investments connected with an above average maintenance, cost-intensive membrane maintenance, enorm drag-out losses, time and material consuming waste water treatment. In principle this is good for always unchanging surfaces, production runs. For typical, diverse job plating it is too extensive, too expensive. Alternatively,  here arise nickel hypophosphite systems with a double service life for existing systems. Presumably, 1 - 3 % of the platers can apply the electrodialysis – see also „electrodialysis“ on the main page.
11/2007 Electroless nickel leadfree, leadfree processes. Lead in electroless nickel baths serves as stabilizer. Depending on the further application of the deposited layers and on corresponding electrolyte concentrations the installation in the microgramme range takes place. A discussion that comes up again and again and which is unspeakable about lead contents in the deposited layers is exaggerated in so far that when looking more closely at the later cases of application and when exactly analysing the connections under consideration. In the VDA- and EU directives < 0.1 % lead is determined as „unintentional integration rate“. Normally electroless nickel layers contain 0.00 to 0.06 % lead! It may seem that the persons which handle the term „leadfree“ in a way that affects the public very much, make  our branch as well as industry branches insecure and perhaps declass  them in order to obtain orders from the competition. Here it is necessary to reasonable deal with this topic. The clarification of the facts is the most important thing to do. One should handle the term „to work leadfree“matter-of-factly. It is certain that the lead is substituted by other components for maintaining the bath stability. Diverse providers work on different possibilities, though. The future : to use metalfree stabilizer.                                          

04/2008 Electroless nickel active carbon treatment. If in the plating companies diverse base materials will be coated, at working temperatures of 80 ° - 92 °C continuous interactions with the surfaces of the raw parts will take place, so e.g. respective casting materials, drawing agents and other auxiliaries will be released from the near-surface layers of the raw parts, and they can enter the nickel bath. Consequence: Due to the accumulation of these “auxiliaries”, together with the increasing age of the bath, the deposited coatings become matt or blockages/faulty coatings or other quality problems will occur. In many cases the electroless nickel supplier is questioned. This is a big error! Remedy: With an active carbon treatment these “auxiliaries” will be drawn / taken from the electroless nickel bath. After that the deposited coatings are faultless again! Several different procedures, carried out under working conditions, are known for this. 

05/2008 How many g/L nickel are allowed? There are providers of processes, which at the moment promote versions with only 3.5 g/L nickel. Customary are 5 - 7 g/L. Their argumentation: Due to the lower nickel content lower costs for the disposal arise. For the first moment this is true, if the disposer produces sludge, this means less chemicals for the disposal. First priority for a plater, however, is the nickel throughput! With the 3.5 g/L-version almost double the quantities for disposal arise. If nickel is recycled the disposal will be more expensive because additional expenses arise due to the lower content of nickel plus the appearance of a volume double the size! 

A further deficiency: If litre charges > 0.5 dm2/L are on the agenda, one has to expect a flooding of the work tank because it is necessary to permanently replenish the low nominal value with chemicals for regeneration. The bath “calves”. This disadvantage should also be mentioned: here it is worked in very narrow concentration ranges regarding the nickel content and the sodium hypophosphite. In companies in which electroless nickel baths are continuously demanded, problems are pre-programmed when such a system will be applied.

Electroless nickel processes - without lead and cadmium - hear.                                                                                                                                                  
08/2008 Demetallisation / development: NEW - nickel stripping free from nitrate, cyanide and strong, akaline complexing agents, works only with 2 components and at only 55 °C in the acid range. Also suitable for ganvanic nickel. The process EN-Stripp NFA removes nickel deposits and steel- and aluminium surfaces. EN-Stripp NBU denickelifies coated non-ferrous metal surfaces. Both systems do not allow any attack on the base material.

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