TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

GINPLATE ELECTROLESS NICKEL 422

SEMI-BRIGHT ELECTROLESS NICKEL PROCESS FOR
HIGH-CORROSION RESISTANCE APPLICATIONS

PROPERTIES :

High phosphorous content in excess of 9 percent

Ammonia - free components

No toxic heavy metals

Eliminates routine use of sulfuric acid for pH adjustment

More stable than competitive engineering baths

Operates at lower nickel concentrations compared to competitive engineering baths

BENEFITS :

 High corrosion resistance meets the need of chemical processing, oil tools and aerospace
industries.
 May be operated as an ammonia-free process
 May be considered for hygenic applications
 Economy. ease of operation and pH adjustment
 High bath productivity, longer bath life, longer filter bag life
 Lower drag-out, less nickel throw-away

Ginplate Ni 422 is a semi-bright electroless nickel process especially designed for high corrosion-
resistance applications and is ideally suited to meet the demanding needs of the chemical processing,
oil tools and aerospace industries. The Ginplate Ni 422 process deposits a smooth, nickel-phosphorus
alloy coating by chemical reduction without electric current on a variety of properly prepared substrates.
The phosphorous content of the deposit is in excess of 9 percent by weight and the deposit has excellent
corrosion-resistance, ductility, wear resistance, hardness and lubricity.

Ginplate Ni 422 may be used in both rack and barrel plating installation to produce electroless nickel
coating at the rate of 7.5 to 12.7 microns per hour for a new bath. Hardness of the deposit “as plated“
is 46 to 48 Rockwell C. When the heat treated for one hour at 400°C, ratings of 66 to 70 Rockwell C
are obtained.

Ginplate Ni 422 is supplied as 3 liquid concentrates. The Ginplate Ni 422 A and Ginplate Ni 422 B are
used kfor make-up,Ginplate Ni 422 A is used with Ginplate Ni 422 C for replenishment. These concentrates
are ammonia - free and the bath may be operated as an ammonia-free process provided calcined
potassium carbonate is used for pH adjustment. In addition, the Ginplate Ni 422 concentrates contain
no toxic heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium or bismuth, and may be considered for hygenic
applications. Ginplate Ni 422 deposits are resistant to chemical staining. The deposits will also pass
the nitric acid test as well as other selective accelerated corrosion tests.

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HOW TO USE GINPLATE NI 422

OPERATING CONDITIONS :

Concentration :
Ginplate Ni 422 A : 6% by volume
Ginplate Ni 422 B : 18% by volume
Deionized or distilled water : 76% by volume
Replenishment : Equal volume of Ginplate Ni 422 A and Ginplate Ni 422 C
Temperature : 86 to 91°C
pH (Electrometric) : 4.8 to 5.0 (see pH section)
Nickel Concentration : 5.2 to 5.8 g/l as nickel metal
Agitation : Work rod and/or mild air
Work load : 1.25 to 2.50 dm2/litre

Make-up :
A new Ginplate Ni 422 solution requires 6 percent by volume Ginplate Ni 422 A, 18 percent by volume
Ginplate Ni 422 B and 76 percent by volume deionized or distilled water. This is equal to 60 ml/l of Ginplate
Ni 422 A, 180 ml/l of Ginplate Ni 422 B and 760 ml/l of deionized or distilled water.

Fill the tank with the required amount of water. While stirring, add the required amount of Ginplate Ni
422 B and stir thoroughly. Then add the Ginplate Ni 422 A. Heat the solution to 86 to 91°C, then check
the pH of the solution (See pH)

Operation :
After proper preparation, parts to be electroless nickel plated are simply immersed in the Ginplate Ni
422 bath for the required time to obtain the desired thickness of electroless nickel. Work rod agitation
and/or mild filtered air agitation using a low-pressure blower are recommended 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.

Faster plating rates can be obtained using higher pH and temperature limits.

When the bath is operated according to instruction with adequate filtration and keep free of solid
contaminants, the Ginplate Ni 422 bath can usually by operated through 6 or more metal turnover.

Substracts :
Ginplate Ni 422 can be used for all iron alloys (Steels, Stainless Steels etc.),copper alloys and many
of the nickel-iron and nickel-copper alloys. Specific recommendations for plating on a variety of different
substrates, as to pre-cleaning and pretreatment cycles as well as bath maintenance are available from
G&W on request.

Temperature :
Normal operating temperature is 86 to 90°C with an optimum of 88ºC. The lower temperature will reduce
the plating rate.

Mechanical agitation of the solution during heating is desirable to avoid localized overheating. Work rod
agitation or mild air agitation is preferred during rack plating. To avoid break down of reducer an stabilizing
systems, do not maintain the bath at operating temperature if work is not being processed.

Replenishment :
To obtain an optimum plating rate and allow for ease of replenishment, it is advisable that the nickel
metal concentration be maintained between 5.2 to 5.8 g/l. Thorough analytical procedures are outlined
under “CONTROL”.

For optimum results in rack or mixed rack and barrel plating, the bath should be replenished with Ginplate
Ni 422 A and Ni 422 C as directed under “CONTROL” .For each 1 volume of Ginplate Ni 422 replenished
, add one volume of Ginplate Ni 422 C. In normal operation, the solution can usually be maintained by
replenishment with 8.0 ml of Ginplate Ni 422 A and 8.0 ml of Ni 422 C per 10 microns per dm2.

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It is recommended that required additions to the operating solution be made frequently. The maximum
recommended addition at any one time should not be in excess of 15 percent of the original metal content
of the bath. Replenishment additions should be accompanied by some solution agitation to ensure
reasonably rapid intermixing.

While the approximate replenishment procedure for normal operation is suitable for daily operation, a
chemical analysis for nickel content as a outlined under “CONTROL” should be performed at the begining
or end of each working day. If the analysis for nickel metal indicates that a large addition of Ginplate
Ni 422 A is required, the “ANALYSIS FOR REDUCER” should also be performed and replenishment of
Ginplate Ni 422 C should be made if necessary, as outlined under “CONTROL”. Addition of Ginplate Ni
422 C should never exceed 1.5 times that of Ginplate Ni 422 A.

One metal turnover is when 5.8 gms of nickel has been plated out of one litre of Ginplate Ni 422 operating
solution. One metal turnover is also when 60 ml/ltr. of Ginplate Ni 422 A have been replenished in the
operating solution.

pH :
Optimum pH is 4.8 to 5.0 pH paper with an approximate range of 3.8 to 5.5 is suitable for use with
Ginplate Ni 422 solutions. E.Merk indicator paper or equivalent has proven satisfactory. If electrometric
pH equipment is used, the pH reading will be slightly higher than that obtained with pH paper.

Whenever possible, pH measurement should be made at 88°C.

pH Adjustment :
Make all additions for pH adjustment slowly and with constant stirring. When using potassium carbonate
for pH adjustment, dilute the solution 1 : 1 with water and be especially careful to make addition slowly
and with stirring to prevent eruption of the bath due to liberation of carbondioxide gas. Whenever feasible,
additions are best made without workloads in the bath and when the solution has cooled to 71°C or less.

Sulphuric acid, 10 percent by volume, may be used to lower pH. However, under normal operating
conditions, the bath will self maintain at or slightly below the recommended pH and sulfuric acid additions
will not be required.

pH may raised by additions of 50% by volume ammonium hydroxide or calcined potassium carbonate
(also called carbonate of potash) solutions. A high purity, 47 percent by weight calcined potassium
carbonate solution is available commercially or from G&W. In addition, a 47 percent by weight calcined
potassium carbonate solution may be prepared by dissolving 700 g/l of calcined potassium carbonate
in water and diluting to one litre.

FILTRATION :

Continuous filtration of Ginplate Ni 422 solutions while in operation can be helpful in the formation of
smooth deposits. Continuous filtration should be through a 5 micron density filtration medium, preferably
gravity-feed bag-type filters.

Plastic or plastic lined filtration equipment should be used; metal parts will be 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 begining the next day’s work. Batch filtration should be through a 3 micron density filtration medium.

EQUIPMENT :

Plating units normally used for hot acid electroless nickel solutions are suitable for use with Ginplate
Ni 422 solutions. A complete information package on equipment for electroless nickel plating is available
from G&W on request.

Disposable, 8 or 12 mil thick PVC tank liners are recommended to prevent the deposition of nickel plate
on stainless steel tanks. These liners are available from G&W . Continuous, anodically - passivated
stainless steel may also be used. Polypropylene tanks or polypropylene - lined tanks are recommended.
Steam Teflon Supercoils or Type 316 stainless steel immersion heaters that are properly grounded with

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“ Over-temperature “ hazard protection and/or a low - liquid - level device are recommended. In tank
, filtration is recommended . Clean, low-pressure air agitation through bottom CPVC or polypropylene
pipes are highly recommended. Clean air, free of oil and dirt is required; shop air should not be used.

Exhaust ventilation is recommended to remove solution mist or vapors that may be generated during
operation of the solution and that may contain nickel salts.

CONTROLS :

Control of the Ginplate Ni 422 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 Erlenmeyer flask

Reagents Needed :
0.0575 M EDTA Solution :

Dissolve 21.4 grams of EDTA - Na2 (disodium ethylene dimine-tetra-acetate) and 6.0 grams of AR grade
sodium hydroxide 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 -

Mix 0.2 gram of murexide (acid ammonium purpurate) with 100 grams of sodium chloride. Grind together
with a mortar and pestle.

AR grade ammonium hydroxide.

Procedure :
1. Pipette a 5 ml sample of the bath into the 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask
2. Add approximately 50 ml deionized or distilled water, 10 ml AR grade ammonium hydroxide,
and a “pinch“ of morexide indicator. Only sufficient murexide indicator should be added to
develop a pale straw colour, too much indicator obscures the end point.
3. Titrate with the EDTA solution to a blue-purple end point.

Calculation :
ml EDTA titrated x 0.675 = g/l of nickel metal

Nickel metal content should be maintained at an average range of 5.25 to 6 g/l. For each one g/l nickel
metal to be replenished , add 10 ml /l of Ginplate Ni 422 A and 10 ml/l of Ginplate Ni 422 C. Check
the pH of the bath and adjust, if necessary.

ANALYSIS FOR REDUCER :

Reagents Needed :
0.1 N Potassium Iodate (KIO3) solution *
6 N AR grade hydrochloric acid (HCL)
0.1 N Sodium thiosulfate solution (Na2S2O3) *
Potassium iodide (KI) crystals.

* Instructions for make-up and standardization of these solutions from G&W. They are also available as
ready -to-use solutions or as measured concentrates in ampules from your local laboratory chemicals
supply house.

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Procedure :
1. Pipette a 5 ml sample of the solution into a 250 ml glass stoppered iodine flask.
2. Add 25 ml of 6 N HCL, using it to rinse down the neck of the flask.
3. Pipette 50 ml of the 0.1 N KIO3 solution into the flask. Add 1 gram of KI crystals.
4. Rinse down the neck of the flask with 3 to 5 ml of 6 N HCL.
5. Stopper the flask and set in the dark for exactly 30 minutes
6. Rinse stopper and neck of the flask with a small amount of deionized water
7. Titrate immediately with 0.1 N Na2S2O3 . Colour change is from brown to
colourless.

Calculation :
94.62 x {ml KIO3 } (Normality KIO3) - {ml Na2S2O3} (Normality Na2S2O3)
= ml reducer per litre of solution

Reducer should be maintained at 156 to 203 ml/l. For every 1 ml/l low, add 0.24 ml/l of Ginplate Ni 422
C.

WASTE TREATMENT :

Solutions of Ginplate Ni 422 contain nickel metal and are acidic. These solutions must be treated for
removal of nickel metal and pH adjusted prior to discharging them into a sewage system. Proprietary
products and waste information are available from G&W upon request. Consult local agencies with regard
to regulations concerning the discharge of nickel and its disposal.

CAUTION :

The Ginplate Ni 422 solution is acidic in nature and is generally operated at elevated temperatures.
Consequently, the normal precautions for handling such solutions should be observed.

Exhaust ventilation is recommended to remove steam and solution mist which are caused by agitation
or gassing of the solution and which may contain nickel salt.

Ginplate Ni 422 A, Ni 422 B, Ni 422 C and the Ginplate Ni 422 solution should not be allowed to come
in contact with the skin or eyes. Adequate eye protection and protective clothing should be used when
making additions or pH adjustments to the bath. When using potassium carbonate for pH adjustment,
make additions slowly with stirring to prevent eruption of the bath due to the liberation of carbon dioxide
gas.

In case of contact of Ginplate Ni 422 A, Ni 422 B, Ni 422 C and the Ginplate Ni 422 solution with skin
or eyes, flush with plenty of water for eyes, flush with plenty of clean water for 15 minutes and obtain
immediate medical attention.

Issued on 12.11.90
Supercedes all earlier

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