Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Doc.-No.: 2359
DATA SHEET
SAP-No.: 1679331
CONTENTS
1. Process Information................................................................................................................................. 2
2. Equipment ............................................................................................................................................... 2
3. Make-Up .................................................................................................................................................. 4
4. Working Parameters ................................................................................................................................ 5
5. Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................ 6
General Data of Plating Solution ........................................................................................................ 6
Function of the Additives .................................................................................................................... 7
6. SAP No. for Make-Up and Maintenance Products .................................................................................. 9
7. Recommendations for Wastewater Treatment ...................................................................................... 10
8. Analytical Instructions ............................................................................................................................ 11
Complexometric Determination of Nickel by Titration ...................................................................... 11
Determination of Chloride by Titration .............................................................................................. 14
Determination of the Boric Acid Content by Titration ....................................................................... 16
Titrimetric Determination of Boric Acid with Glycerin Citrate Solution ("Mixed Solution")................ 18
Semilux 101 Make Up and Semilux 102 Brightener by LC .............................................................. 20
Semilux SE1 using LC-UV ............................................................................................................... 24
9. Document History .................................................................................................................................. 28
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1. Process Information
The Semilux 100 nickel plating process produces a highly levelled, ductile, semi-bright deposit exhibiting
exceptional corrosion protection when used as the undercoat in a duplex or multi layer nickel system.
• A process that can be used on a variety of substrates as steel, brass, zinc-die castings, copper
or plastics.
• Excellent levelling and ductile deposit.
• High STEP values, 110 – 170 mV range.
• Improved corrosion protection characteristics.
• Easy conversion from other semi-bright nickel plating processes.
2. Equipment
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Air Agitation / Mechanical Agitation Mechanical as well as air agitation must be provided to
ensure high rates of deposition as well as excellent leveling.
Air agitation:
The required amount of air is about 15 – 20 m3/h per meter
cathode rod. The spargers are installed parallel to the
cathode rod and to each other; about 30 – 80 mm above the
tank bottom. Depending on the size of the tank the spargers
will be drilled with 3 mm holes at intervals of 100 mm at an
angle of 45° to the tank bottom. Each pipe has two rows of
holes set opposite to each other at intervals of 40 – 50 mm.
It is recommended to install at least two feeding pipes. The
distance of the pipes to each other is to be 150 – 250 mm
(inner diameter 20 – 40 mm). Suitable materials are PP or
PVC. To avoid contamination of the plating solution by oil
compressed air must not be used.
Mechanical agitation:
Additional cathode rod movement proved beneficial to ensure
that all areas of the parts are reached by the air stream.
Cathode rod movement should be horizontal.
Exhaust Required.
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3. Make-Up
The plating tank and all associated plumbing, including pumps, spargers, heaters, filters, racks, etc., should
be cleaned. A clean, off-line heated tank should be used to prepare the working plating solution.
• Dissolve the boric acid, nickel sulfate and nickel chloride in hot (70 – 80 °C) DI-water while stirring well.
Use a steel tank with a vitreous enamel lining or a stainless steel (grade 316), PP, CPVC or PVC tank
for this operation. To dissolve approx. 37 kg of the combined nickel salts and boric acid, at least 50 l
water are needed at 80 °C.
• Add 5 g/l pulverized activated carbon (low sulfur, low iron; suitable activated carbon can be purchased
from Atotech) and stir for 30 – 60 min. Turn off the agitation to allow the activated carbon to settle to the
bottom of the tank for 3 – 4 hours – preferably overnight.
• Filter the solution back into the clean working tank (Ensure that the temperature of the solution during
filtration stays above 50 °C to prevent precipitation of boric acid).
• Fill the tank to nearly the final volume with DI-water, check the operating temperature and adjust if
necessary.
• Adjust the pH as required with a 10 % (v/v) sulfuric acid.
• Dummy plate solution with steel panels (degreased, descaled and/or nickel plated) at 1.5 – 2.5 A/dm2
for 2 Ah/l. Use of agitation and filtration during this period is beneficial.
• Readjust the pH, if necessary.
• Add the required amounts of
and circulate for 20 minutes to assure thorough mixing. The electrolyte is now ready for use.
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4. Working Parameters
Voltage 8 – 15 V
Page: 5 / 28
5. Maintenance
General Data of Plating Solution
Additions of 10 g/l each of the following salts will change the inorganic bath values as follows:
The pH can be adjusted with sulfuric acid (diluted to 10 % (v/v)) or – if there is a lack of chloride ions – with
hydrochloric acid (diluted at a ratio of 1 : 1).
Evaporation losses must be replenished by adding distilled or deionized water.
Nickel
The nickel content should be determined at least once a week and adjusted at regular intervals. Normally a
concentration of 68 – 80 g/l is specified, because this provides a sufficiently high metal concentration for all
purposes. If the plating job is particularly difficult (deep recesses, sharp corners, irregular shapes, etc.) or if
the current concentration required is above 4.5 – 6.5 A/l, the nickel concentration should be carried at the
higher level, the top value depends upon requirements.
Chloride
The chloride content should be determined and corrected at the same frequency suggested for nickel and
should be maintained within the limits specified. Too low chloride content will result in poor anode corrosion
and low efficiency leading to depletion of the nickel content of the solution and/or breakdown of the addition
agents. Too high chloride content reduces the ductility and increases the internal stress of the Ni deposit.
Boric Acid
The boric acid content of the solution should be determined and adjusted at least once a week. The control
and maintenance of the boric acid content of the plating solution between the specified limits is essential. At
boric acid concentrations > 50 g/l crystallization of the boric acid could take place of the solution is allowed to
cool down causing roughness of the deposit. Lack of boric acid results in a reduced cathodic efficiency which
is visible by increased gassing at the cathode.
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Semilux 101 Make Up is mainly added at the time of make-up. Semilux 101 Make Up is lost mainly by
drag-out. Semilux 101 Make Up can be added directly to the plating tank without dilution. Care should be
taken to ensure uniform distribution throughout the plating tank. Normal carbon filtration (1 – 2 g/l) will not
remove a significant amount of Semilux 101 Make Up. Heavy carbon treatment (5 – 10 g/l) may remove up
to 50 % of the Semilux 101 Make Up.
Page: 7 / 28
High concentration of Semilux 102 Brightener (> 0.8 ml/l) can result in relief formation in areas of very low
local current densities. This effect can be reduced by lowering the pH, reducing the strength of air agitation
or increasing the current density. If even higher leveling is required Semilux 103 Booster should be used
instead of further additions of Semilux 102 Brightener.
Semilux 102 Brightener should be added in smaller portions to avoid large over-the-side additions that
could also cause a temporarily change of the resultant deposit. It is recommended that initially the Semilux
102 Brightener is determined once per eight hour shift to establish the consumption rate and thereafter
dosing as required. The consumption of Semilux 102 Brightener will typically be higher when inert or
auxiliary anodes are utilized. An excess of Semilux 102 Brightener in the plating solution can be removed
through electrolysis.
Semilux SE1
Semilux SE1 is used to maintain or increase the STEP (potential difference between semi-bright and bright
nickel deposits) and to improve the brightness of the deposit in medium to low current density areas.
0.1 ml/l Semilux SE1 will increase the STEP approx. by 10 – 20 mV.
Semilux SE1 retains all of the appearance and performance characteristics of Semilux 102 Brightener and
also provides the consistently high STEP (110 – 170 mV).
Semilux SE1 functions with Semilux 101 Make Up and Semilux 102 Brightener to control the brightness
and STEP of the Semilux 100 deposit in a duplex or multi layer nickel system. Excessive concentrations of
Semilux SE1 may result in reduced ductility, increased hardness and increased internal stress. Electrolysis
will reduce excessive concentrations of Semilux SE1.
Semilux SE2
Semilux SE2 is used to maintain or increase the STEP (potential difference between semi-bright and bright
nickel deposits) instead of Semilux SE1 in case a low hardness of the SB-Ni deposit is required.
0.5 ml/l Semilux SE2 will increase the STEP approx. by 10 – 20 mV.
Semilux SE2 retains all of the appearance and performance characteristics of Semilux 102 Brightener and
also provides the consistently high STEP (110 – 170 mV).
Semilux SE2 functions with Semilux 101 Make Up and Semilux 102 Brightener to control the brightness
and STEP of the Semilux 100 deposit in a duplex or multi layer nickel system. Excessive concentrations of
Semilux SE2 may result in reduced ductility, increased hardness and increased internal stress. Electrolysis
will reduce excessive concentrations of Semilux SE2.
The dosing of Semilux 103 Booster is approx. 0.5 l (0 – 2.0 l) per 10000 Ah depending on the required
leveling, drag-out, installation conditions, etc. For dosing Semilux 103 Booster can be mixed with
Semilux 102 Brightener.
Page: 8 / 28
Wetting Agent NP-A, Nickel Additive Y-17 and Wetting Agent Ni 86 conc
These addition agents are wetting agents and perform their function by lowering the surface tension of the
nickel plating solution. Wetting Agent NP-A / Nickel Additive Y-17 is a low foaming type of wetting agent
and should be used in air agitated solutions. Wetting Agent Ni 86 conc. will only be required in
mechanically agitated solutions. Excessive usage of Wetting Agent NP-A / Nickel Additive Y-17 or
Wetting Agent Ni 86 conc usually indicates contamination of the plating solution and steps should be taken
to eliminate the source of contamination.
Selective Cleaning
All nickel plating solutions develop some type of inorganic and organic contamination due to drag-in,
decomposition of additives or by electrolysis. Therefore, it is recommended that all nickel plating solutions be
treated on a regular basis. The scheduling of maintenance and treatment of nickel plating baths depends on
the amount of work processed through the solution, the number of ampere-hours per volume of solution, the
amount of drag-in from previous operations, or if the bath has been idle for an extended period of time. If
insoluble auxiliary anodes are used, the solution should be treated more frequently.
Page: 9 / 28
Rinse water
Nickel can be precipitated by adjusting the rinse water pH to between 9.5 – 10. The filtered solution can
subsequently be sent to final neutralization.
Concentrates
The following options are possible when concentrated Nickel solutions must be treated.
When nickel is to be recycled, it is generally necessary to treat these nickel solutions separately from other
solutions.
The following recycling methods are typical, although others can be recommended:
• Electrowinning of nickel using an appropriated electrolytic cell.
• Treatment of nickel concentrate, or of a precipitated nickel sludge, by a specialized recycling company.
If these methods cannot be used, the nickel concentrate together with the complexing agent free
wastewaters can be treated by adjusting the pH to between 9.5 – 10. For better precipitation the
concentrates must be diluted in a ratio of 1 : 10 before sending to the wastewater treatment plant.
For better flocculation we recommend to add a flocculant (e.g. a polyacrylamide / anionic with a mol mass of
4 – 6 million). The solution is then stirred and the precipitation is allowed to settle for better filtration.
Concentrate regeneration
The available bath regeneration system using membrane anodes and adsorber type Nikotect can be
recommended. Please see the respective special data sheet for details.
Membrane anodes:
This system avoids an increasing of the Ni-content in the bath due to different current efficiencies at
the electrodes.
Adsorber:
The adsorber system using a special resin eliminates organic contaminations from the Ni-electrolyte.
This recommendation for the treatment of wastewater is in accordance with the Regulation
on requirements for the discharge of wastewater into water (Allgemeine
Abwasserverordnung, AbwV) and was issued on the basis of the limits provided in Annex
40 of the AbwV "Metal Handling and Metal Processing".
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the limiting values of pollutants
including the general regulations on dangerous materials!
Page: 10 / 28
8. Analytical Instructions
Version: 04
Complexometric Determination of Nickel by Titration
Doc.-No.: A0000364-04
Please follow the general regulations for hazardous materials in the Safety Data
Sheets!
The analytical procedure is to be followed exactly.
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants.
Equipment required:
The above listed equipment is only valid when this method was created. For purchase of new
analytical equipment the recommend equipment list has to be followed:
https://10.187.127.52/Communication/html/scientific_services_chemical_services_analytics.php
Page: 11 / 28
Titrationspeed: Optimal
Stop EP: 1
EP crit.: 20
Procedure:
Manual titration:
• 1.0 ml** of the sample is transferred into a suitable vessel and mixed with
• 80 ml deionized water,
• 10 ml 25 % ammonia solution and
• 2 spatula tips of indicator triturate.
• Titrate with 0.1M Na2-EDTA volumetric standard to a deep purple endpoint. At the end of the titration
the EDTA volumetric solution should be added carefully, because of a slight delay of color change.
Potentiometric indication
Page: 12 / 28
Evaluation:
The consumption of 0.1M Na2-EDTA volumetric standard in ml***, multiplied by 5.871 gives the content of
Nickel in g/l.
Example:
The titration of 1.0 ml sample consumed 8.50 ml 0.1M Na2-EDTA volumetric standard.
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
Page: 13 / 28
Version: 06
Reagents required*:
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants, including the general regulations for hazardous materials!
Procedure:
• 2.0 ml of the nickel bath are mixed in a 300 ml Erlenmeyer flask with
• 100 ml of DI water and, after the addition of a few drops of saturated potassium chromate indicator
solution, titrated with
• 0.1 M silver nitrate volumetric solution. The titration process is complete when the initially white
precipitate turns brownish.
The consumption of 0.1 M silver nitrate volumetric solution*** in ml – multiplied by 1.77 – gives the total
chloride content of the bath in g/l.
Page: 14 / 28
Example:
7.6 ml of 0.1 M silver nitrate volumetric solution were used for the titration of 2.0 ml nickel bath.
Calculation:
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
Page: 15 / 28
Version: 04
Determination of the Boric Acid Content by Titration
Doc.-No.: EXT-0352-TIT-04
Principle:
Acid-Base Titration
Reagents required*:
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants, including the general regulations for hazardous materials!
Procedure:
• 2.0 ml** sample solution are pipetted into a 300 ml Erlenmeyer flask and mixed with
• 10 ml of DI water and
• 1 ml of indicator solution.
The resulting solution is then neutralized drop by drop with
• 0.1 M sodium hydroxide volumetric solution until the solution turns purple. (Neutralization is not
necessary if the solution turns purple after the addition of the indicator solution.)
• 50 ml of Karion F liquid or equivalent 5 g of mannitol are then added to it and mixed up well, which
turns the solution golden yellow. Titration is now performed with
• 0.1 N sodium hydroxide volumetric solution until the color changes to purple.
Multiplying the number of ml 0.1 N sodium hydroxide volumetric solution*** used by 3.092 produces the
content of boric acid in the solution in g/l.
Page: 16 / 28
Example:
For the titration of 2.0 ml of the sample solution 11.0 ml of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide volumetric solution was
used.
Calculation:
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
Page: 17 / 28
Version: 02
Titrimetric Determination of Boric Acid
with Glycerin Citrate Solution ("Mixed Solution") Doc.-No.: EXT-0478-TIT-02
Reagents required*:
• "Mixed solution": 60 g of sodium citrate are dissolved in distilled water, and then add 600 ml glycerin to
it. Dissolve 2 g phenolphthalein in the minimum amount of warm alcohol (denaturated with benzol) and
add this to the citrate-glycerin solution. Make-Up to 1 l with distilled water. (If the mixture turns red after
the addition of phenolphthalein - as a result of alkali in the glycerin - it can be neutralized by means of
careful addition of 0.1 N sulphuric acid until the red discoloration just disappears.)
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants, including the general regulations for hazardous materials!
Procedure:
•
**
1.0 ml nickel bath are mixed in a 300 ml Erlenmeyer flask with
• 100 ml distilled water and
• 25 ml "mixed solution". This is then titrated with
• 0.1 N sodium hydroxide volumetric solution until the pale green colour of the solution changes to a
definite red or violet. Since the solution is viscous, it must be well stirred continuously as otherwise the
red colour forms on every drop of caustic soda solution added and only disappears when the solution is
well stirred.
Multiplying the number of ml 0.1 N caustic soda volumetric solution used by 6.184*** produces the boric acid
content of the bath in g/l.
Page: 18 / 28
Example:
6.2 ml of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide volumetric solution were used for the titration of 1 ml nickel bath.
Calculation:
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
Page: 19 / 28
Version: 03
Semilux 101 Make Up and Semilux 102 Brightener by LC
Doc.-No.: A0002273-03
Principle:
Reversed Phase High Efficiency Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) using UV-detection and external standards
Reagents required*:
Please follow the general regulations for hazardous materials in the Safety data
sheets!
The analytical procedure is to be followed exactly.
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants.
Equipment required:
HPLC-System with diode array detector (DAD, recommended) or variable wavelength detector (VWD)
including a manual or automatic sampling device and a data processing or integration system
Page: 20 / 28
Procedure:
Operating Parameter:
The aforesaid listed equipment is only valid when this method has been created.
For purchase of new analytical equipment the recommend equipment list has to be followed:
https://10.187.127.52/Communication/html/scientific_services_chemical_services_analytics.php
Page: 21 / 28
Standard solutions:
Exactly 1.0**ml of Semilux 101 Make Up is pipetted into a 100 ml volumetric flask and filled up with de-
ionized water.
Exactly 1.0 ml of Semilux 102 Brightener is pipetted into a 100 ml volumetric flask and filled up with de-
ionized water.
Standard Solutions:
Standard solutions with the following concentrations in water are prepared out of the stock solutions:
Mix A Mix B Mix C
Make Up 0.05 ml/l 0.1 ml/l 0.2 ml/l
Brightener 0.02 ml/l 0.04 ml/l 0.1 ml/l
The correct values have to be calculated out of the real concentrations in the certified references.
Sample Preparation
Depending on the contents the sample is diluted with de-ionized water in a way that the measured peak
areas are within the calibration curve.
Dilution example for the determination of:
Semilux 101 Make Up: 1:50, 1:20
Semilux 102 Brightener: 1:20, 1:10;
Evaluation:
The contents of Semilux 101 Make Up and Semilux 102 Brightener are evaluated via linear external
calibration by using the instruments software.
Page: 22 / 28
Example:
7,664
0,30
AU
0,20
0,10
0,00
1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00 5,00 6,00 7,00 8,00 9,00 10,00
Minutes
0,030
0,020
AU
6,076
0,010
0,000
1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00 5,00 6,00 7,00 8,00 9,00 10,00 11,00
Minutes
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
Page: 23 / 28
Version: 01
Semilux SE1 using LC-UV
Doc.-No.: A0003103-01
Reagents required*:
Please follow the general regulations for hazardous materials in the Safety data sheets!
The analytical procedure is to be followed exactly.
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for pollutants.
HPLC-System
Model: Alliance or equivalent model
Time in min A% B%
0 100 0
16 100 0
16.1 0 100
22.0 0 100
22.1 100 0
45 100 0
Page: 24 / 28
Injection System
Column
Detector
Retention time
The above listed equipment is only valid when this method was created. For purchase of new
analytical equipment the recommend equipment list has to be followed:
https://10.187.127.52/Communication/html/scientific_services_chemical_services_analytics.php
Page: 25 / 28
Procedure
Stock Solution:
Exactly 1.0 ml Semilux SE1) is placed into a 100 ml measuring flask and the flask is filled up to the
mark with DI-water. (= 10 ml/l)
For external calibration the standards are prepared through corresponding dilutions of the stock solutions.
Water is used for the dilution.
concentration of Semilux SE1: 0.2 ml/l, 0.5 ml/l and 1.0 ml/l
Sample Preparation
The sample is measured undiluted and diluted in a ratio of 1:1. To 1 ml of the sample 1 ml DI-Water is added
and shaken.
The measured peak area of the sample must be between the peak areas of the standards. After
measurement the LC-system is to be cleaned for 15 min using Methanol/Water (1:1).
Calculation
The concentration of Semilux SE1 is calculated by external calibration through a suitable HPLC
software.
Page: 26 / 28
Document of Analyses:
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
This sheet shall serve for your information. The content of the sheet is based on our best Atotech Deutschland GmbH
knowledge. We do not undertake any duty to advise. The contents of the sheet shall not P.O. Box: 21 07 80
be considered as an agreement on condition and quality of the goods delivered. 10507 Berlin, Germany
The decision to use our products for its production purposes is the responsibility of our Erasmusstraße 20
customer. We can accept liability only for the quality of our products at delivery. If 10553 Berlin, Germany
difficulties arise in the application of our products, we propose that you contact our phone +49 (0) 30 349 85 0
technical service department. fax +49 (0) 30 349 85 777
Page: 27 / 28
9. Document History
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