Question About Electroplating
jpsmith123, Thu May 05 2016, 03:42PMDoes anyone know if nickel can be electroplated directly onto steel (I think it's 4140 alloy, if that's a factor), or would a layer of copper or something have to be put down first?
Re: Question About Electroplating
Ash Small, Thu May 05 2016, 09:13PM
Have you googled 'Wood's strike' JP?
Page 292. It can be a bit fiddly zooming in and out, etc.
Ash Small, Thu May 05 2016, 09:13PM
Have you googled 'Wood's strike' JP?
Page 292. It can be a bit fiddly zooming in and out, etc.
Re: Question About Electroplating
jpsmith123, Fri May 06 2016, 12:40AM
Thanks for the info. I never heard of that formula before (NiCl2 + HCl). I see where it supposedly works on stainless steel, but for some reason I'm having trouble finding info on nickel electroplating (using any formula) with regard to other steel alloys.
Edit:
On the Caswell Plating web site, their nickel plating kits are described as being able to plate directly on steel, so I guess that answers my question.
I think I will try to use the simple method described here:
jpsmith123, Fri May 06 2016, 12:40AM
Thanks for the info. I never heard of that formula before (NiCl2 + HCl). I see where it supposedly works on stainless steel, but for some reason I'm having trouble finding info on nickel electroplating (using any formula) with regard to other steel alloys.
Edit:
On the Caswell Plating web site, their nickel plating kits are described as being able to plate directly on steel, so I guess that answers my question.
I think I will try to use the simple method described here:
Re: Question About Electroplating
Ash Small, Fri May 20 2016, 08:34PM
I think the link stated that all steels could be nickel plated.
Some methods will produce better results than others. Keep us posted on how it goes.
Ash Small, Fri May 20 2016, 08:34PM
I think the link stated that all steels could be nickel plated.
Some methods will produce better results than others. Keep us posted on how it goes.
Re: Question About Electroplating
Enceladus, Thu Feb 09 2017, 02:08AM
Yeah, I can't see any reason why it shouldn't work. Nickel can be tricky though. Your surface must be very very clean and you may have to play with the current density, solution concentration, pH, and spectator ions. If you do have trouble plating directly, you really can't go wrong laying down a copper strike. Copper is very forgiving to less than ideal conditions and plates onto practically anything (I've Cu plated graphite!) and nickel definitely plates well on to copper. I'm not an expert though. Keep researching.
Enceladus, Thu Feb 09 2017, 02:08AM
Yeah, I can't see any reason why it shouldn't work. Nickel can be tricky though. Your surface must be very very clean and you may have to play with the current density, solution concentration, pH, and spectator ions. If you do have trouble plating directly, you really can't go wrong laying down a copper strike. Copper is very forgiving to less than ideal conditions and plates onto practically anything (I've Cu plated graphite!) and nickel definitely plates well on to copper. I'm not an expert though. Keep researching.
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