NiStar 103(R)

‍‍‍1. Product Description

Nickel supplement NiStar 103(R) is a high-speed sulfamate nickel plating process. It is specifically designed for electroplating production lines requiring high speed and high current density, capable of depositing soft, low internal stress, and semi-bright nickel plating layers. Soluble or insoluble anodes can be selected. The plating layers produced by this process meet the requirements of the U.S. Military Specification (Mil Spec) QQ-N-290A, Class 1 and Class 2.

2. Process Characteristics

● The nickel plating layer has low stress and good ductility.

● Wide operating current range, with high potential being less prone to burning.

● Compared to other nickel plating systems, it offers better solderability.

● Sulfur-free system; the plating layer has superior corrosion resistance compared to other nickel plating systems.

3. Bath Composition and Operating Conditions

4. Equipment Preparation

1. Thoroughly rinse the plating tank and all ancillary equipment with clean water. Remove all anodes and anode baskets from the tank.

2. Flush the entire system with circulating water until all water-soluble residues are removed.

3. Discard any consumable items that may be contaminated by previous plating solutions, such as anode bags and filter cartridges.

4. Drain the water.

5. Add trisodium phosphate/sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 22.5-45 g/L to the tank. Heat to 38–50°C and circulate the cleaning solution throughout the entire system for 4–8 hours.

6. Drain the cleaning solution.

7. Rinse the entire system with circulating clean water.

8. Drain the water.

9. Fill the tank with a 10% sulfuric acid solution and circulate it to clean the entire system. Then, allow the filtration system to soak the entire setup for no less than 8 hours.

10. Circulate the filtration/acid solution throughout the entire system.

11. Drain the filtration/acid solution.

12. Rinse the entire system with circulating clean water.

13. Drain the water.

14. Test the conductivity and pH value.

5. Bath Solution Preparation

a) Add the required amount of nickel sulfamate concentrate to the plating tank.

b) Add 10% of the total volume of pure water and stir thoroughly.

c) Raise the solution temperature to between 50-55°C.

d) Add the required amount of boric acid and stir thoroughly until completely dissolved.

e) Add the required amount of nickel chloride concentrate and stir evenly.

f) Add the required amount of nickel supplement NiStar 103(R) and stir until well mixed.

g) Add pure water to adjust to the operating level, then stir evenly.

6. Component Introduction and Control

Nickel Metal:

The nickel metal concentration can be maintained by adding nickel sulfamate concentrate. Each liter of nickel sulfamate concentrate contains 180 grams of nickel metal. For analytical methods of nickel metal, please refer to the analysis methods section.

Nickel Chloride:

The nickel chloride concentration can be maintained by adding nickel chloride salt. If the level is too low, it can cause passivation of the anode surface. Therefore, an appropriate concentration must be maintained to ensure normal dissolution of the anodes.

Boric Acid:

Boric acid acts as a pH buffer in the plating solution. When adding, it can be mixed into a slurry using hot water and then slowly introduced into the plating bath. It is recommended to replenish boric acid only after production is completed. Alternatively, it can be placed inside anode bags to dissolve naturally.

pH Value:

To lower the pH, sulfamic acid can be used. Approximately 0.08 g/L of sulfamic acid can lower the pH by 0.1. To raise the pH, nickel carbonate can be used.

Recommended Replenishment and Control Schedule

Handling and Precautions

If the plating solution comes into contact with the skin, rinse the affected area thoroughly with plenty of clean, cold water for no less than 10 minutes. In case of extensive contact, particularly with the eyes, immediate medical treatment is required.

Storage

Store all chemicals from Plating Friend Co. in an upright position. The containers must not be exposed to direct sunlight. Containers should be kept in a dry place with a temperature between 10-32°C. Ensure all containers are tightly sealed when not in use.

Wastewater Treatment

Users must identify and follow wastewater treatment procedures in compliance with local regulations. When disposing of the working solution, it must be diluted, neutralized, and discharged according to local regulatory requirements.

Before handling and using these chemicals, refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

Packaging

7. Troubleshooting

8. Analysis Methods

1. H₃BO₃ (Boric Acid):

Take 2 ml of plating solution in a 250 ml conical flask. Add 60 ml of water, 4 g of mannitol, and 3-4 drops of PCB indicator. Titrate with 0.2N NaOH until a light bluish-purple endpoint is reached.

Calculation: H₃BO₃ (g/l) = 6.184 × ml of NaOH used

2. NiCl₂ (Nickel Chloride):

Take 2 ml of plating solution in a 250 ml conical flask. Add 3-5 drops of 5% potassium chromate indicator. Titrate with 0.1N AgNO₃ until the precipitate exhibits a faint reddish tint.

Calculation: NiCl₂ (g/l) = 5.95 × ml of AgNO₃ used

3. Ni²⁺ (Nickel Ion) and Nickel Sulfamate:

Take 1 ml of plating solution in a 250 ml conical flask. Add 60 ml of water and 10 ml of pH 10 buffer solution. Add 1-2 g of ammonium purpurate (murexide) indicator. After complete dissolution, titrate with 0.1M EDTA disodium salt until the color changes to purple.

Calculations:

● Nickel Metal (g/l) = 5.869 × ml of EDTA used

● Nickel Sulfamate (g/l) = (5.869 × ml of EDTA used - NiCl₂ × 0.2463) ÷ 0.18 × 1.54

4. Preparation of Standard Solutions and Indicators:

● 0.2N NaOH: Dissolve 8 g of NaOH in water and dilute to 1 L.

● 0.1N AgNO₃: Dissolve 16.98 g of AgNO₃ in water and dilute to 1 L.

● 0.1M EDTA Disodium Salt: Dissolve 37.224 g of EDTA disodium salt in water and dilute to 1 L.

● pH 10 Buffer Solution: Dissolve 54 g of NH₄Cl in 350 ml of concentrated ammonia solution and dilute to 1 L.

● Ammonium Purpurate (Murexide) Indicator: Thoroughly grind 0.2 g of ammonium purpurate with 100 g of NaCl until uniformly mixed.

9. Disclaimer

All recommendations and suggestions regarding our company's products in this manual are based on experiments and data we deem reliable. Since we cannot control the actual operations of other practitioners, our company cannot guarantee or be held responsible for any adverse consequences.

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