Kemtek Ni-508

medium phosphorous electroless nickel process

Kemtek Ni 508 is a new highly stable electroless nickel process especially designed
for economy of operation and good corrosion protection. The Kemtek Ni 508
process deposits smooth, bright nickel phosphorous alloy coating by chemical
reduction without electric current on a variety of properly prepared metallic and
non-metallic substrates. The electroless nickel deposit has a phosphorous content
in excess of 7% by weight.

Kemtek Ni 508 is designed to produced hard, smooth, corrosion-resistant coatings

in both rack and barrel plating installations at the rate of 0.5 to 0.8 mil (13 to 20
microns) per hour for a new bath. Hardness of the deposit as plated is 46 to 48
rockwell c. When heated for 1 hour at 400 degree.c, rating of 66 to 70 rockwell c
are obtained. Lower heat treating temperature require longer times to produce a
hardness value of 66-70 rockwell c. Heat treating at 250 c requires 24 hours to
obtain a hardness of 68 rockwell c.

Kemtek Ni 508 supplied as a three - liquid component system. Kemtek Ni 508 a and
Kemtek Ni 508 b are used for make up of a new bath. Kemtek Ni 508 c is used with
Kemtek Ni 508 a for replenishment.

Features of Kemtek Ni 508 process :

Fast plating rate.

Low operating cost.
High hardness/wear resistance.
Excellent brightness.
Good stability/long life.

Solution composition
Concentration
Kemtek Ni 508 a 60 ml.
Kemtek Ni 508 b 90 ml.
Deionized or distilled water 850 ml.
For maintenance equal volumes of Kemtek Ni 508 a &
Kemtek Ni 508 c.
Operating conditions

optimum range
Temperature 88 c. 82 - 91 c.
Ph (electronic) 4.8 4.2 - 5.5
Nickel metal 5.6 g/l 5 - 6 g/l.
Agitation work rod and mild air.
Filtration overflow filtration

Make up
A new Kemtek Ni 508 solution requires 60 ml/l Kemtek Ni 508 a, 90 ml/l Kemtek Ni
508 b and 850 ml/l deionized or distilled water. Fill the tank with the required
amount of water. While stirring add the required amount of Kemtek Ni 508 a & 508
b. Heat the solution to 82 - 91 c, check the ph of the solution. The ph should be
within the operating range of 4.6 - 4.9. If ph adjustment is necessary refer to
section entitled ph.

Operation
After proper preparation, parts to be electroless nickel plated are simply immersed
in the Kemtek Ni 508 bath for the required time to obtain the thickness of
electroless nickel required. Work rod agitation (vertical agitation is most effective)
and/or mild filtered air agitation using a low - pressure blower are desirable for
obtaining good plating rates.

During normal operation, continuous filtration is recommended for best results.

(see filtration). The bath should be allowed to cool down when not in use to
assure maximum bath life and economical operation.

Temperature
Normal operating temperature is 82 - 91 c with an optimum 88 c. Mechanical
agitation of the solution during heating is desirable to avoid localised overheating.
Work rod agitation or mild agitation is preferred during rack plating. Faster plating
rates are obtained when operating at higher ph and temperature ranges. For heavy
deposits operate the bath at the lower ph and temperature to retard pitting.

Replenishment
To maintain an optimum plating rate replenishment, it is advisable that the nickel
metal concentration should not be allowed to drop below 5.3 - 6.0 g/l. Analytical
procedure is outlined under control

For optimum results in track and barrel plating, the bath should be replenished with
Kemtek Ni 508 a and Kemtek Ni 508 c as directed under control. For each l volume
of Kemtek Ni 508 a replenished, add 1 volume of ni 508 c.
In normal operations the solution can be usually maintained by replenishing 100 ml
of Kemtek Ni 508 a and 100 ml of ni 508 c per 10 sq.dm. Per 15 microns per hour.
For other plating rates replenishment would be on a proportionate basis.

It is recommended that required additions to the operating solution be made

frequently. The maximum recommended addition at any one time should be not in
excess of 5 percent of the original metal content of the bath. Replenishment
additions should be accompanied by some work or solution agitation to ensure
reasonably rapid intermixing.

While approximate replenishment procedure for normal operation is suitable for

daily operation. However, a chemical analysis for nickel metal content as outlined
control should be performed and replenishment of Kemtek Ni 508 c should be
made if necessary as outlined under control. Additions of Kemtek Ni 508 c should
never exceed 1.5 times that of Kemtek Ni 508 a.one metal turnover is when 5.6 gms
of nickel metal has been plated out of one litre of Kemtek Ni 508 operating solution.
One metal turn over is also when 60 ml/lit of Kemtek Ni 508 a have been
replenished in the operating solution.

Ph
Optimum ph is 4.7 to 4.8 except for plating on aluminium where a maximum ph of
5.2 is recommended. Maintain the ph at the recommended operating range of 4.6
to 4.8 by slowly adding 50% by volume ar graded ammonium hydroxide solution to
raise the ph or 10% ar grade sulphuric acid to lower the ph.

Filtration
Continuous filtration of Kemtek Ni 508 solutions while in operation can be helpful in
the formation of smooth deposits. Continuous filtration should be through a 15
micron density filtration medium, preferably gravity feed bag type filters. Plastic or
plastic lined filtration equipment should be used; metal parts will become plated. If
continuous filtration is not feasible, cool the solution at the end of the working
period and then batch filter the entire amount before beginning the next days
work. Batch filtration should be through a 3 micron density filtration medium.

If continuous filtration is used, the entire filtering system including pump, filter
chamber (with filter removed) hoses etc. Should be leached out at least once a
week by recirculating 50% nitric acid followed by a through water rinse and with
deionized or distilled water containing a small amount of ammonia.

Equipment
Plating units normally used for hot acid electroless nickel solutions are suitable for
use with Kemtek Ni 508 solutions.

Disposable polythylene or polyvinyl tank liners are recommended to prevent any

deposition of nickel plate on stainless steel tanks. These liners are available from
artek. Polypropylene tanks with steam teflon tube heaters or low density electric
heaters may be used.

Control
Control of the Kemtek Ni 508 bath is based on the rapid and accurate analysis for
nickel metal content as follows:

Analysis for nickel metal

Apparatus needed:
5 ml pipette.
50 ml burette with 0.1 ml graduations.
250 ml erlenmeyerflask.

Reagents needed
0.1medta - dissolve 40 gms of edta (disodium ethylene diamine- tetra-acetate) in
deionized or distilled water. Allow to cool and dilute to exactly 1 litre with deionized
or distilled water using a volumetric flask.

Murexide indicator-mic 0.2 grams of murexide(acid ammonium purpurate) with 100

gms of sodium chloride. Grind together with mortar and pestle.
Ar grade ammonium hydroxide.

Procedure
A} pipette a 5 ml sample of the bath into the 250 ml erlenmeyer flask.
B} add approximately 50 ml deionized or distilled water. 10 ml of ar grade
Ammonium hydroxide, and pinch of murexide indicator should be added to
develop
A pale straw colour: too much indicator poseures the end point.
C} titrate with edta solution to a blue-purple end point.

Calculation
Ml edta titrated x 58.69 x m of edta
5 = g/l of nickel metal

Replenishment
Nickel metal content should be maintained at an average range of 5-6 g/l. For each
one g/l of nickel metal to be replenished add 10 ml/l of Kemtek Ni 508a and 10
ml/litre of Kemtek Ni 508 c. Check the ph of the bath and adjust if necessary.

Analysis for reducer

Normally, replenishment additions of Kemtek Ni 508c based on the analysis for
nickel metal will keep the concentration of reducer at its proper level. However, the
consumption of reducer may not always be at the same rate; therefore it is
advisable to run occasional analysis to ensure that it is in the recommended range,
of 86 to 109 ml/litre. It is not within the recommended range, replenish using
Kemtek Ni 508 c as outlined below :-

Apparatus needed
250 ml glass stoppered iodine flask.
5 ml pipette.
50 ml pipette.
5 ml dropping pipette.
25 ml graduate.
50 ml burette.

Reagents needed
6 n ar grade hydrochloric acid (hcl)
0.10 n iodine solution
0.10 n sodium thiosulfate solution

Procedure
A] pipette a 5 ml sample of the solution into a 250 ml stoppered iodine flask.
B] add 25 ml of 6n hcl using it to rinse down the neck of the flask.
C] pipette 50 ml of the 0.10n iodine solution into the flask.
D] rinse down the neck of the flask with 3 to 5 ml of 6n hcl.
E] stopper the flask and set in the dark for exactly 30 minutes.
F] rinse stopper and neck of the flask with a small amount of deionized water.
G] titrate immediately with 0.10n sodium thiosulphate. Colour change is brown
to
Colourless.

Calculation
34.13 x [(ml iodine) (normality iodine) - (ml sodium thiosulphate) x (normality
sodium thio sulphate)] = ml reducer per litre of solution

Replenishment
Reducer should be maintained at 86 to 109 ml/litre. For every 1 ml/litre low, add
0.62 ml/litre of Kemtek Ni 508 c.

Waste treatment

Solution of Kemtek Ni 508 contain nickel metal and are acidic. The ph of Kemtek Ni
508 solutions must be adjusted to 6-8 after high ph treatment for precipitation of
metal and prior to disposal into a sewage system.
Caution

The kemplate ni 508 solution is acidic in nature and is generally operated at elevated
temperatures, consequently, the normal precautions for handling such solutions should be
observed.

Kemplate ni 508 a is strongly acidic and contains nickel salts. Kemplate ni 508 c, and the ni
508 solution should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin or eyes. In case of
contact, flush with plenty of cold water,for eyes flushwith copious amounts of cold water
for 15 minutes and obtain immediate medical attention.

Note:
The data set forth in this bulletin is believed by artek surfin chemicals ltd. To be true, accurate and complete but is not
guaranteed. Our sole warranty is as stated in our standard terms and conditions of sale. We cannot warrant our customers
will achieve the same results from any bulletin because we do not have control over the condition of use; nor can we assume
any responsibility for our products in a manner which infringes the patents of third parties.

Issued : 26-apr-97 spds. 24-mar-05