EN 2010, Monday, November 8th:  EN Fundamentals

8:00am:  Registration Opens

9:30am:   Continental Breakfast

10:00 – 11:50 am 

EN Properties and Uses

Matt Sisti, Coventya
The properties of Electroless Nickel deposits are well defined; corrosion performance especially is linked to mechanisms that impact deposit porosity.  The performance of an Electroless Nickel system chemistry is also mostly predictable in many end-use applications.  To further improve the capabilities of these technologies in the next several years, better correlation of R&D laboratory studies and the relationship to improved deposit and tank performance is critical.  New methodology's to monitor and control the diffusion of key EN chemistry constituents have resulted overall in the improvement of performance for these systems and their deposits which will be reviewed.  

Equipment for EN

Charles Johnson, Palm International

This presentation will go over recommended plating equipment to optimize bath performance and process control of Electroless Nickel. It will cover: tanks, heaters, controllers, ventilation, pumps, chemical feeders, plumbing, etc. It will list all of the choices available and best practices.

Pretreatment of Ferrous Alloys

Stan Zabrocky, Enthone Inc.

Leading OEMs worldwide depend on the quality of electroless nickel plated parts to enhance wear and corrosion performance, improve appearance and enable product performance. Proper surface conditioning is as important to successful electroless nickel plating as the selection of the nickel process itself. The majority of plating failures are the result of improper cleaning and activation cycles. This presentation will discuss the planned cycle of controlled treatment steps, each calling for matched cleaners and activators designed for the substrate and finial finish.

Pretreatment of Aluminum

Rich Bellemare, OM Group

This paper will outline the basic operations in the pretreatment of aluminum for Electroless Nickel. We will discuss pretreatment processes and considerations, the nature of aluminum, typical alloys and the five basic steps necessary to ensure a successful EN finish.

12:00 noon – 1:30pm

Lunch Presentation: State of the Industry

Bill Fields, Palm International

For our luncheon presentation, Bill Fields will walk us through the current state of the electroless nickel industry.  After collecting data from all the major EN vendors, a snapshot of where we are today will be delivered and explained. 

1:45 – 4:00pm

Process Control

Paul Feagins, Lekem, Inc.

Electroless nickel is used today for a very large number of applications on a wide range of substrates. This has necessitated the development of specialized baths which can help acheive maximum corrosion resistance. This paper will discuss the various aspects associated with the typical EN application and present ideas to maximize useful bath life.

Specifications/Quality Control

Kuldip Johal, Atotech

In a world of basics, receiving what you pay for is an important element of any successful business transaction. Having the ability to provide assurances that, on any given day, an EN deposit will meet the end requirements or needs of the application is crucial. Quality certification systems are shown to serve as quality cornerstones; however, specifications provide a more grass roots approach for the examination of Electroless Nickel deposits. This presentation will show you how to equate quality with performance.

Post Treatments of Electroless Nickel Deposits

Michel Aleksinas, Metal Chem Inc.

For a variety of reasons, post treatments are frequently administered to electroless nickel deposits.  These may include increased corrosion resistance, anti-staining characteristics, hardening of the deposit, better release properties, and even coloring of the deposit.  Each of these post treatments will be discussed in detail and will highlight the benefits of these applications.

Waste Treatment of Electroless Nickel

David Calnan, CCI-A Chemical Corporation

The method in which you handle the waste from your EN process is of critical importance and can save you time and money if done properly.  There are several considerations for treating EN on site, including:

1. The types of chelating agents employed in the process.
2. The amount of spent EN generated and cost for treatment off-site.
3. The amount of EN rinses as a percentage of total flow in the wastewater treatment system.
4. Equipment and storage capabilities.
5. Value of nickel in solid waste generated.

During this presentation there will be several types of treatment methods analyzed, such as Calcium Chloride and heat, the removal of ammonium through caustic pH adjustment and air, calcium and DTC and acid pH adjustment and oxidation rendering the chelating agents inert.

Trouble Shooting EN

Mike Barnstead, MacDermid

4:00-5:00:  Panel of Experts with Cocktails and Questions

In this unique spin on a typical panel discussion and Q&A, we’ll offer cocktails to conference attendees while they can ask any questions related to the topics discussed by our industry experts in the fundamentals program.  This is your opportunity to share ideas and collaborate in a fun, relaxed environment.