Many electroplating plants know that the bath temperature should be raised when using nickel plating additives. However, if asked why heating is necessary, not everyone may be able to answer. Perhaps you might say it's operated according to the manual. Then why does the manual stipulate it this way? In this issue's article, we will introduce the logic behind this, which will help us understand at what temperature the bath solution should be used to bring out the effect of the additive.
All electrode processes are carried out in a certain temperature environment. From a practical perspective, room temperature (25℃) is the ideal temperature. However, if the electrodes are only allowed to operate at room temperature, many electrodeposition processes cannot be carried out, including bright nickel plating, chromium plating, nickel-phosphorus alloy plating, copper alloy plating, etc., which are all difficult to achieve.
The influence of heating
For those electrolyte plating solutions that have relatively high voltages even for pure metal ions at room temperature (such as iron, cobalt, nickel, etc.), electroplating can be carried out in simple salt plating solutions. However, for metals such as nickel, gold, copper, zinc and cadmium, due to the relatively low overvoltage, if they are electroplated in the electrolyte of their simple salts, it is highly likely that the coating will be scorched.
In actual production, to solve the above problems, only complexing agents or additives can be used to change the overvoltage of the reaction. But at the same time, it also slows down the reaction speed. This plating solution, which has been added with various coordinating agents, conductive salts, etc., has an overall increased concentration and viscosity, and its electrical conductivity is much lower than that of a simple salt solution.
In such cases (for instance, when bright nickel plating is added with nickel plating additives), by using an appropriate heating method, the electrical conductivity can be increased without disrupting the complexation effect, and the current density allowed for the reaction can be raised. This can achieve a dual effect of enhancing the reaction rate and improving the dispersion ability. This is also the reason why most plating solutions that use complexing agents need to be heated.
About us
Guangdong Bigely Technology Co., Ltd. ,founded in 2003, is a high-tech enterprise integrating R & D，production, sales and service, specializing in the production of electroplating chemicals. As a fast growing electroplating chemicals supplier in China, Bigely has over 20 years' experience in electroplating additives production and own production base of 5000 square meters. We can produce 15,000 tons of electroplating additives every year, which can fully meet the needs of customers.
If you need our high-quality electroplating additives, please contact us. We can provide you samples for test, and also provide a series of services.
