IMDS Plating Issues - Need to enter QQ-N-290 Nickel Plating into the IMDS

[bfd_dan]

Hello, I need to enter QQ-N-290 Nickel Plating into the IMDS and am having a very difficult time locating the formulation and percentages of components. I was told that IMDS has plating reference tables where you can look up commonly used plating and get the components. Can someone post a link to the tables? The system is very difficult to use without any training....

Thanks for any replies.

DW

[Wes Bucey]

Welcome to the Cove!

There is an SAE Standard

http://www.sae.org/servlets/productD...D_CD=AMSQQN290
SAE Standards
Document Number: AMSQQN290
Date Published: July 2000

Title: Nickel Plating (Electrodeposited)
Issuing Committee:
Ams-B Finishes Processes And Fluids Committee
Scope:
This specification covers the requirements for electrodeposited nickel plating on steel, copper and copper alloys, and zinc and zinc alloys.
Product Status: In Stock
File Size: 143K
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I may have this Standard filed away in my garage somewhere, but I know I don't have the 2000 version. I'm not sure how the Standard reads because I gave up on electrodeposited nickel plate in 1990 and convinced all my customers to go to electroless nickel (no "dogboning") - So I don't know whether it contains the formulation or not - but you should be able to call SAE and ask.

If not, any supplier of the chemicals for electroplating nickel will give you the formulation of the chemicals he supplies and what it should produce on the product being plated.

Two trade journals for the plating industry come to mind:
http://www.pfonline.com/
http://www.metalfinishing.com/

You may get more focused response there.

[Al Rosen]

I don't know if this helps. Here is the FED STD.

[Wes Bucey]

Yep. My own copy may be that old (1971).
A quick read of Al's copy shows no mention of any element or compound in the formulation except sulfur as a contaminant. I still think your best source is the plating solution manufacturer.

As I reread the Standard, I recalled a lot of the reasons I switched from electroplating to electroless nickel, especially the hydrogen embrittlement part.

Why not tell us about your application and the function? Perhaps we can help you consider a better alternate.