Q. What is the typical processing sequence for a Wood’s nickel strike? S.M.
A. The interesting thing about the Wood’s nickel process is that there probably is not a typical processing sequence. If you talk to five platers you probably we will come away with 10 different ways of performing the Wood’s nickel step. Here is one such process sequence:
1. Soak clean
2. Rinse
3. Electroclean
4. Rinse
5. Acid dip
6. Rinse
7. Wood’s nickel strike
8. Rinse
9. Plate with desired metal
Many different formulations for the Wood’s nickel strike are described in the plating literature. One such formulation is as follows:
| Component | Concentration |
Nickel chloride | 45 g/L nickel (added as nickel chloride) |
Hydrochloric acid (concentrated) | 10% by volume |
| Operating Parameters | Range |
| Temperature | 70-90°F |
| Current density | 10-40 ASF |
| Time | 0.5-3.0 minutes |
| Anodes | Nickel* |
*Nickel content will increase with time and should be allowed to increase above 75 -85 g/L.
