If you have an alkaline plating bath, then you are likely familiar with carbonates. Those of you who still have or have had cyanide plating baths are all too familiar with carbonates. In this article, we will discuss what a carbonate is, how it is formed in a plating solution, and what it does to the plating bath. We will also visit a couple of ways of dealing with these when they get too high. What Is a Carbonate? First things first, what is a carbonate? A carbonate is a salt of the anion CO32-. That’s all well and good for those of us who stayed awake in chemistry, but for the rest of us, … [Read more...]
June 15, 2016 By
Water and the Plating Process: Part 3
As we have discussed in part 1 and part 2 of this series, water is very important to the plating process. As an astute reader will recall, we are discussing how different types of water will affect the plating process. This week, we will wrap up the discussion with Purified Water. Purified Water Purified water, such as RO or DI water, will contain few to zero ions. Thus, it is very different from soft or hard water in how it relates to cleaner baths. Since there is a dearth of stuff in solution, purified water will not inhibit saponification. Purified water will also not increase the amount … [Read more...]
June 8, 2016 By
Water and the Plating Process : Part 2
In the first part of this three-part series, we discussed water and the integral part it plays in the plating process. We are talking about how the different types of water impact the plating process in different ways. In this post, we will talk about soft water and how it affects different process tanks. Soft Water Soft water, much like hard water, contains cations. However, these cations are different from hard water cations. Soft water typically contains Na+ (Sodium) and K+ (Potassium) rather than Ca2+ (Calcium) and Mg2+ (Magnesium). Let’s take a look at how these different cations affect … [Read more...]
June 1, 2016 By
Water and the Plating Process: Part 1
It may seem fairly obvious to most readers, but water plays an integral role in the plating process. Whether it’s the rinse tanks, or the process tanks, water is in every bath. It may come as no surprise to you that the different types of water will interact with the plating process in different ways. In this series of blog posts, we will delve into each type of water and how it interacts with the process, starting with hard water. Hard Water As you may recall, hard water is characterized by its mineral content. These minerals, typically calcium and magnesium, can cause several issues. Let’s … [Read more...]
April 27, 2016 By
Bright Nickel Chrome Plating
Nickel is plated for many reasons. The appearance can be altered by modifying the nickel deposit itself or the thin chrome coating over it to produce bright, satin, or dark finishes. First and foremost, we tend to think of nickel as a bright finish. Nickel provides a decorative appearance due to its ability to cover imperfections in the basis metal (leveling). Nickel deposits can be made brilliant and when covered by a thin layer of decorative chromium, will maintain its brilliance even under severe conditions. Satin Nickel Satin nickel under bright or dark chromium offers a wide range of … [Read more...]
April 21, 2016 By
What Is “Burning” from a Plating Bath?
We've all seen it. That crispy, flaky, nodular, usually dark deposit on the high current density extremes (edges, etc.). Usually, turning down the current is the reaction done immediately to try and remedy the problem. But exactly why does burning occur? An understanding of the mechanisms involved with the formation of a burn can better help a plater to avoid this nasty problem. Going back to high school chemistry (if you can remember that far back), you may have seen demonstrated the two electrodes from a battery, generator, or rectifier placed in a beaker of water. You will see gassing at … [Read more...]
April 13, 2016 By
How is Asterion handling GHS?
Asterion has completed the conversion from the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to the GHS compliant Safety Data Sheet (SDS). We are currently distributing the SDS to customers. A SDS was sent for any products purchased after January 1, 2014. This time frame was based on the standard expiration, of one year, for Asterion products. Those that have requested the SDS in hard copy format, they were mailed on April 24. Those that requested the e-mail format, should have received those SDS between April 23 and April 28. Asterion has made the conversion to the use of the new label format. You … [Read more...]
April 12, 2016 By
How Does GHS Affect Me?
This article is the second in a three part series on hazard standards and labeling. Read the first article on GHS here. Now that we have defined GHS (Globally Harmonized System) , its purpose and the changes to the hazard communication system, let's discuss how it will affect you. The requirements of the global harmonization system will affect everyone from the manufacturer to the end user. In this post we will discuss the regulatory timeline and the basic requirements. If you need additional information we encourage you to access OSHA’s webpage for full text of the regulation and letters … [Read more...]
April 3, 2016 By
Hazard Communication: What is GHS?
This article is the first in a three part series on Hazard Communication and chemical safety. What is GHS? In the most basic of terms, GHS is the revised Hazard Communication program adopted by the occupation safety and health administration (OSHA). More specifically, GHS is an acronym for Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals. OSHA explains, "This is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labeling of chemicals." Purpose OSHA explains GHS has three main purposes: defining health, physical and environmental hazards of chemicals, … [Read more...]