What factors affect the electroless nickel plating process when using electroless nickel plating solution? In this article, let's discuss the loading capacity.
The loading capacity refers to the ratio of the area of the workpiece to be plated to the volume of the plating solution used, expressed in dm ² /L. Each plating solution has an optimal loading amount specified during the research and development process, which is noted in the technical specification. When applying plating, the workpiece should be placed as per the regulations and the concentrated solution should be replenished in a timely manner. In this way, the best effect can be achieved.
Data shows that the plating speed of those with smaller loading capacity is faster than that of those with larger loading capacity. This is not caused by timely replenishment. Compared with the plating bath with a large loading capacity, the concentration of reactants and pH value in the plating bath with a small loading capacity change less, and a higher deposition rate can be maintained for a longer time.
The reactants in a large loading bath are consumed quickly. If they are not replenished, the deposition rate will inevitably decrease. Of course, if the pH value, the concentration of the main salt and the reducing agent can be continuously replenished and adjusted during the plating process, the optimal ratio state at the time of opening the tank can be maintained. Then, the change in the loading amount will have little impact on the deposition rate.
The general loading rate of plating solution is 0.5 to 1.5dm2/ L. However, in actual working conditions, many large workpieces have a large volume but a relatively small plating area, especially when repairing locally worn parts, which is more prominent. In such cases, it is very difficult to achieve the optimal loading rate.
When using electroless nickel plating solution, if the loading volume is large and not replenished in time, the plating speed will be reduced and the quality of the coating will be affected. For example, when plating powder parts, the loading volume is very large. Due to the large amount of hydrogen precipitation and the large-scale adsorption of stabilizers and complexing agents in the plating solution, the plating solution will soon fail to work normally or even decompose.
Conversely, if the loading capacity is very small, close to the empty load of the plating solution, the heating under no-load conditions, apart from the loss caused by the decomposition of hypophosphite, in extreme cases, can gradually reduce the plating speed of the normally plated workpieces, even stop the plating, or cause no plating at all. The reason is that in a large volume of plating solution, the small area of the workpiece adsorbs too much stabilizer.
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