MONTHLY REVIEWPublished
by the VOL. XVII MAY, 1930 No. 5 EDITORIALIf you want a better understanding of the practice of electrochemistry; And you want to participate in a real program of progress in your profession; And you are really a seeker of knowledge and truth about plating practice and theory; and would know what the wisest and best men in electro-plating industry have taught in the past year; And are interested in the mysteries of this profession and its evolution to perfection; And it is your desire to extend your mental vision and discover new things in plating art, developing a greater desire to serve your fellow workers; And logic and reason appeal to you, you love truth, despise error and hypocrisy; why do you not join the American ElectroPlaters Society, and if you are a member, why not attend meetings regularly? The above mentioned society seeks to impress its members with above philosophy, by thoughts and words; it is the apostle of liberty from plating mysteries, and no one who belongs to this society and attends its meetings can long remain idle, or ignorant, but will become strong and confident in ability. If not a member join now. If you are a member attend its Branch and Annual Meetings, and enjoy its benefits. DOING THINGS FOR THE ELECTRO-PLATING INDUSTRYBy Charles H. Proctor In October last I was very much interested in the Publishers’ Page of “Metals and Alloys,” the short article under the caption of “Let’s Have Your Views.” The first issue of this excellent publication appeared in July. Abstracting from the October issue, I was much interested in the following statement gleaned from results of interviews had with representative men at several conventions and other personal interviews by a representative of “Metals and Alloys,” viz: “While all the encouraging and complimentary things said to us in these interviews were welcome and decidedly cheering, we valued even more, some of the intelligent criticisms that various people took the trouble to present to us in detail. “The most frequent criticism was a suggestion that we steer clear of making the paper too ‘technical’ and that we devote at least a part of our space to articles interesting to so-called ‘practical’ men throughout the metallurgical industries such as foundry men, electro-platers, etc. “We intend to profit by these suggestions and have already taken steps to secure such material because we feel that ‘Metals and Alloys’ should have something to say to all types of people having any interest in metallurgy and the use of metallurgical products.” “We have had enough experience in selling ‘advertising’ in other technical publications to realize that the average advertising manager instinctively shies at a paper which appears to him as being extremely technical, or as he more usually puts it ‘highbrow.” The reason for my writing this paper is for the specific purpose of eliminating from electro-plating publications and from the electro-plating industry and from the American Electro-Platers’ Society, a lot of such “highbrow” papers, technical, if you so desire to call them, which tell you all about the theory of doing things but tells you nothing about producing results on a commercial economic production basis which after all means “practical” results in the fullest measure. Theory is but thought until one is enabled to put the thought, the theory, into commercial practical results or production. If you do not believe so go and talk to your plant manager, to your superintendent and commence to theorize as to how you think you can do things that you elaborate on. When he wishes to know whether you can produce the results you have outlined to him, you tell him no, but you have the theory that it can be done; he will politely tell you “We want results, not theory, you know.” This is absolutely true in the electro-plating industry. You must know how to do things and how to produce results wanted, at a minimum of cost, and if you cannot produce the results then some one else will fill your position who can do what you cannot do. These are cold commercial facts that all the theory in the world cannot eliminate from commercial production at a minimum of cost. We often hear that the chemist will eliminate the electro-plater due to his superior knowledge of the chemistry of the electroplating solution and its control. On November 23rd last I had the pleasure of presenting a paper before the New York Branch of the American Electro-Platers’ Society, entitled: “Taking the Bunk Out of Electro-Plating Industry” and incidentally the electro-platers society. I anticipate that this paper will eventually be published in the “Monthly Bulletin” of the Society. From the ovation received after the papers presentation it would appear to its author that its hearers were satisfied that there is a lot of “bunk” as he outlined. Experience, you know is the best teacher in the world. There is nothing like experience. It costs a lot of money some times to gain practical experience, and experience that cost most is longest to be remembered, but after all the cost is worth while when the knowledge has been gained that can be put to commercial results and production. If we summarize the results in defining what a successful modern electro-plater should know then this is the answer: (a) He should have learned thoroughly the art of electro-plating in all its details, be able to deposit any commercial metal and apply any chemical finish on any metal. (b) He should be able to analyze his plating solutions chemically and to know what plating formula will produce the maximum results under intensive commercial production at a minimum of cost. Chemical knowledge and control of his plating will enable him to produce constant results every day, under known conditions and when analysis of solution does not overcome problem then experience gained through years of application will tell him what further additions must be made to his solutions to correct them when the deposit goes wrong and therefore make them right. When pitting of nickel deposits occur, when peeling of the deposits results, which all too frequently is laid at the door of the manufacturers of metal cleaners, and when analysis of the solution does not tell you “why” these problems occur or how they occur, but you have learned that such results are due to hydrogen in excess which results from solutions of high metal concentration and high current densities now used in intensive production of plated products at a minimum of time, then you certainly must know what to do. To give you a basic idea as to what is required to control hydrogen conditions in high density nickel solutions operated at temperatures up to 130 deg. Fahr., firms that manufacture automobile bumpers and auto radiator shells, use as much as 30 barrels of 25 volume hydrogen peroxide per month, others use an equivalent amount of sodium perborate which they convert to hydrogen peroxide themselves. In copper plating high carbon steel from high density copper cyanide solution pitting and pealing of the copper deposit, can be traced to the same evil factor “hydrogen” which I once termed the “devil” of the plating solution. (c) He should study Faraday’s and Ohm’s Laws so that he can determine what current densities are best adapted for the various metal deposits he must produce. Electrical control of the plating solution and the plated deposit is even more essential than analysis of the plating solution if he desires to reproduce continuously “standard” plated deposits of known thickness he must know to a certainty the voltage, the amperage and the time factor that is required to maintain such results. Guess work and rule of thumb methods will then be entirely eliminated and a man with such knowledge as outlined in a, b, and c can then be considered as a truly modern electroplater. Chemists and metallurgists and engineers, too, realize that without the knowledge gained from years of practical experience in electro-plating methods they are but as “figure-heads” and “highbrows” as I have already referred to in he outline of this paper. Doing things for the electro-plating industry then is the essential factor for commercial results. I always enjoy listening to our good friend and wise counsellor, Dr. Oliver P. Watts of the University of Wisconsin. When you follow carefully what he explains to you in his interesting talks you will make note that he always says “You can do this.” He does not hand you a promissory note such as many orators do when they address you on electro-plating matters, when they state that “If you can do this or that, then, of course, you can accomplish a purpose,” but when “if” is attached to “you can,” a hundred chances to one is that what the author has in his mind as a theory cannot be done in practice. I should prefer
to listen to more of the Oliver P. Watts type of men’s
interesting talks in his quiet way, than to all the presumptuous that
talk before the electro-platers society and when they are through find
that the things they elaborate on cannot be done. We are interested in
doing things for the electro-plating industry. Papers presented should
teach us this. It is not necessary to re-state the fighting chance I took several years ago single handed to prevent control of the cadmium plating industry which has become of great commercial importance in America, when I established prior art through the publication of the Russell and Woodrich patent of 1849 and also the splendid article on “The Electro Deposition of Cadmium” by the late Emmanuel Blassett, Jr., as published in The Metal Industry, December, 1911, which re-established prior art and enables any one to operate a cadmium plating solution commercially without violation of any succeeding patent. There exists today only one real patent that can be considered as a valid factor and that factor is an anode that contains as the controlling factor metallic mercury on the basis of 98.99 per cent cadmium and 2 to 1 per cent mercury. I have fought my way through the maize of chromium plating with the same weapons, public opinion, as I had previously done with cadmium, fearless and free in the belief that I was right in defending commercial chromium plating established in the expired patent of Placet and Bonnet. Establishing, as we have defined it, prior art of the work of Carveth and Curry who were in accord with the findings of Placet and Bonnet and substantiated their claims that commercial chromic acid could be used in connection with sulphuric acid as the sulphate factor and bright lustrous chromium deposits resulted that should eventually have great commercial values, of the work of Sargent financed by Dr. Bancroft and Carveth and Curry, resulting in the chromium solution with minor modifications that is in use all over the United States today. More than four years ago I mentioned to many of my friends who followed my ideas covering a distinctive chromium plating solution based on Sargent’s original solution, that I would for their interests and the interests of commercial chromium plating make every effort to obtain a patent on a distinctive chromium solution which would protect their interests against encroachment and my company, who I have the honor to represent at this meeting, as well as mine. The claims have been allowed covering the solution and anodes, your protection is mine, and all my friends included. This is “doing” things for the electro-plating industry. A year ago this time I presented a paper covering a duo-deposit of duo zinc and tin for the benefit of the electro-plating industry and gave all details as to plating solution, etc., and its control. When you see a radio unit that is mounted on a steel plated base and which has a color approaching scratch-brushed silver in whiteness and lustre you will know then it is a duo-zinc and tin deposit that is produced at less than half the cost of straight cadmium deposits. As a solution of the problem of high cost of cadmium and still maintain the maximum resistance against rust and atmospheric oxidation of malleable iron and gray iron and steel products, the Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Company introduced in large eastern plant a duo-deposit of cadmium, zinc and mercury, 50 per cent cadmium, 48 per cent zinc and 2 per cent mercury. The solution itself approximating the same equivalent basis. The firm in question plates twelve tons of small parts of conduit fittings made from malleable iron and steel per day. The cost of the anode is slightly more than one half of that of an anode made from pure cadmium, when you consider the difference in the atomic weight of cadmium and zinc, this special anode does not cost half as much as cadmium but the rust resistance is much greater. You can realize the enormous saving that results to the firm in question in the cost of a year’s time by using this new alloy. Another innovation in doing things by the company that employs me for the electro-plating industry, they have put out a new alloy and solution which we have given the name of “Durobrite.” It is really due to a high zinc-low cadmium anode, 90 per cent zinc, 10 per cent cadmium. In this unusual deposit it would appear that the cadmium acts as a colloidal metal factor resulting in the bright lustre finish elaborated on. Doing things for the electro-plating industry resulted in a distinctive bright white lustre deposited metal for distinctive metal shoe buckles attached to white leather shoes which will be all the vogue in women’s footwear this summer. For years the chrome alum tanned white shoe leathers have attacked all electro-plated deposits applied to low brass shoe buckles. Cut steel, silver nickel, any metal that gave a finish comparable to the white leather of the shoe was attacked and disintegrated by the action of the chrome alum in the leather and moisture of the atmosphere. Two well known firms in the east have copyrighted as trademarks the names “Tarno” and “Plateen” finish. The finish was introduced by the author of this paper and consists of a white bright lustre electro tin plated deposit obtained from the electro tin plated solution given to you in Chicago a year ago. Burnishing in oscillating burnishing barrels, better known in the east as tumbling barrels, with plenty of steel balls and “burnishine” burnishing soap solution are the lustre producing factors. Doing things
for the plating industry resulted in two high density nickel and copper
cyanide solutions
being introduced by the author for the benefit
of the automotive industry, that wanted such solutions which could be
operated at a minimum-of 50 amperes per square foot of surface area.
In experiments carried out at the Research Laboratories of the company
that employs me at Perth Amboy, N. J., with these solutions, current
densities have been carried as high as 100 amperes per square foot of
surface area. Sections of automobile bumpers plated in such solutions
for a total of 19 minutes, including three minutes in our standard chromium
solution with two buffings included applied to the copper deposit and
final nickel deposit, the quadruple deposits consisting of nickel, copper,
nickel and chromium, when exposed to the action of a standard 20 per
cent salt spray test solution, the break down showed that rust spots
did not occur until after five hundred hours exposure to the test. In a later paper I shall give all solution details covering the deposits mentioned in this paper, so that “Doing things” for the electro-plating industry will be more complete. Some of the papers written years ago by the writer and which today have all the hall marks of today’s modernism in the electroplating industry are: “A Simple Method of Regulating Anode Surfaces in the Plating Bath,” illustrated with drawings.“The Metal Industry, July, 1910. “The Rapid Deposition of Nickel by Continuous Filtration Using Felt Bags and a Mechanical Pumping Device.” Some time in 1908 (exact date is at present lost). “Some Methods Used by Electro-Platers to Produce Bright Nickel Deposits.” (Cadmium was first mentioned in this article.) The Metal Industry, January, 1916. “Speeding Up the Electro Deposit.” (The evolution of the single nickel salts in still and mechanical plating solutions. ) The Metal Industry, February, 1916. “How We Can Best Adopt ‘Standardization’ for Plating Solutions and Products in Individual Plants.” The Metal Industry, July, 1919. “American Electro-Platers’ Society and the Manufacturer., The Metal Industry, August, 1920. “Guaranteed Electro-Plating.” A plea for better electro-plate products in the automotive and other industries that should carry the guarantee of its wearing qualities by the manufacturer. The Metal Industry, August, 1923. It is interesting to note that the above title covered an address made at the convention of the American ElectroPlaters’ Society in Providence, R. I., July 2 to 5, 1923, and contained an important paragraph which can certainly be considered modern in this year of grace, 1930, and is as follows: “It is my desire that this 1923 convention of the American Electro-platers, Society go on record in support of better plated products, which will be more enduring under the rigid service that all plated products must endure under our modern conditions, and that the application of electro-plated surfaces shall be improved so that the maximum of wear can be assured to the consumer who must pay the price of poorly plated defective products.” Nearly seven years ago and the statement still emphasizes “Doing Things for the Electro-Plating Industry.” THE CONTROL OF H ION CONCENTRATIONS
|
CHROMIUM
TANK NO. 1
|
||||
Date
|
Content
of H2SO4
|
Density
of CrO3
|
Oz.
per gal. CrO3
|
Ratio
of CrO3 to H2SO4
|
Sept. 14 |
.30
|
24.17
|
38.06
|
126
|
Sept. 21 |
.32
|
23.15
|
36.04
|
112
|
Sept. 29 |
.31
|
23.15
|
36.04
|
116
|
Nov. 6 |
.33
|
23.15
|
36.04
|
109
|
Nov. 13 |
.30
|
23.15
|
36.04
|
126
|
Nov. 20 |
.28
|
23.15
|
36.04
|
128
|
Nov. 27 |
.34
|
26.15
|
42.03
|
123
|
Dec. 4 |
.24
|
23.15
|
36.04
|
150
|
Tank No. 1 would give a very good chromium deposit from ratio 112 to 130, above. 130 it would plate cloudy and rough, below 110 it has no throwing power. |
CHROMIUM
TANK NO. 2
|
||||
Date
|
Content
of H2SO4
|
Density
of CrO3
|
Oz.
per gal. CrO3
|
Ratio
of CrO3 to H2SO4
|
Sept. 14 |
.24
|
23.15
|
36.4
|
150
|
Sept. 21 |
.32
|
23.15
|
36.4
|
113
|
Sept. 29 |
.31
|
23.15
|
36.4
|
117
|
Nov. 6 |
.33
|
24.17
|
38.6
|
116
|
Nov. 13 |
.34
|
26.15
|
42.3
|
124
|
Nov. 20 |
.32
|
26.15
|
42.3
|
132
|
Nov. 27 |
.42
|
25.17
|
40.3
|
95
|
Dec. 4 |
.32
|
25.17
|
40.3
|
125
|
Head Lamp Bodies. |
CHROMIUM
TANK NO. 3
|
||||
Date
|
Content
of H2SO4
|
Density
of CrO3
|
Oz.
per gal. CrO3
|
Ratio
of CrO3 to H2SO4
|
Sept. 14 |
.30
|
22.12
|
34.4
|
113
|
Sept. 21 |
.32
|
22.12
|
34.4
|
107
|
Sept. 29 |
.29
|
22.12
|
34.4
|
118
|
Nov. 6 |
.26
|
24.17
|
38.6
|
147
|
Nov. 13 |
.31
|
24.17
|
38.6
|
124
|
Nov. 20 |
.30
|
22.12
|
34.4
|
114
|
Nov. 27 |
.30
|
22.12
|
34.4
|
114
|
Dec. 4 |
.30
|
22.12
|
34.4
|
114
|
Small Side Lamps. |
CHROMIUM
TANK NO. 4
|
||||
Date
|
Content
of H2SO4
|
Density
of CrO3
|
Oz.
per gal. CrO3
|
Ratio
of CrO3 to H2SO4
|
Sept. 14 |
.41
|
24.17
|
38.6
|
94
|
Sept. 21 |
.40
|
23.15
|
36.4
|
91
|
Sept. 29 |
.47
|
23.15
|
36.4
|
77
|
Nov. 6 |
.46
|
25.17
|
40.3
|
87
|
Nov. 13 |
.62
|
27.11
|
44.2
|
71
|
Nov. 20 |
.52
|
25.17
|
40.3
|
77
|
Nov. 27 |
.52
|
25.17
|
40.3
|
77
|
Dec. 4 |
.47
|
23.15
|
36.4
|
77
|
H2SO4 is kept very high as we plate parts in this solution that we can not clean. 12 volts are used for this solution. |
The reason for going through this cycle of-cleaning and dip methods by us can be explained in the following way. Some of you might remember the paper read by Dr. Graham at the Detroit convention, entitled “Industrial Cleaning of Metals.” In his paper he tells of a bonding solution and he states that he believes it necessary to bright dip or etch metals for good adherent deposits. I disagree with Dr. Graham and feel that he either has not had practical experience or has not given this matter of bonding enough thought to be able to give a good reason for his statement.
Bright dips, cyanide dips, or acid dips are only used for removing scale, dirt, grease, and oxides which are formed through either the manufacturing of the metals or in the cleaning process, and if it were not for this scale and oxide that has to be removed after the cleaning operations are done it would not be necessary to use an acid dip in order to get a good adherent deposit. Then is it not reasonable to believe that if you can clean metal parts without tarnish and you can neutralize the cleaning solution in water well enough before entering the nickel solution, the cyanide and acid dip could be eliminated entirely. So let us go hack a minute to the cycle of nickel cleaning before chromium plating. One will probably ask, “Why all the cleaning and all the dips?” We’ll get to the point at once and explain. In cleaning brass parts nickel plated for chromium plating the first cleaner mentioned which consists of caustic soda and cyanide actually does the cleaning, but the film and the oxide left on the nickel surface from this cleaner can not be removed with acid and cyanide dips. For this reason the second cleaner must be used to remove this hydrogen film. Then the acid dip is used to remove the oxide. The acid dip is followed by the cyanide dip to neutralize the acid and water to rinse the cyanide.
As cyanide has no effect on a chromium solution if only a small amount of the same is carried into the chromium solution, no further rinses are necessary. See next page before going ahead.
The first two slides that I will show here represent two solutions newly made up, and these solutions are made up according to Mr. Loevering’s (magic fluid?).
The first slide, as you will notice, shows you that in this solution we have mond nickel anodes of the nickel oxide type.
Slide
No. 1—
Here let me again offer some criticism or suggestion if you would rather
have it that way. And in doing so, let me quote Mr. Hogaboom’s
own words:
“Mr. Reinhardt spoke of Dr. Evans’ work. Personally, I think that every plater in this room ought to read Dr. Evans’ paper. I think it is one of the most interesting papers that I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time, and to my mind it explained some of the difficulties that have been experienced with cold rolled steel. You, that have plated cold rolled steel, know that you have had some that would plate beautifully. Others, cleaned and handled in identically the same way, would blister or peel. That is mostly true on highly burnished steel. You have pickled it and found a deposit that you could rub your finger on and called it carbon, stating as I have myself, that they probably put oil on it in the rolling, and then when they came to anneal it that oil is carbonized and therefore that carbonized surface was what caused the trouble. It is my opinion, which must be substantiated by data, that in the rolling of highly burnished stock they use less lubrication, and there is greater friction, due to trying to get the very dense structure and the highly burnished top. That friction causes oxidation. I have taken Dr. Evans’ one twentieth molar nitrate of copper and put it on a little burnished stock and it has taken two hours before I would get a precipitation of copper, and during those two hours adding a glass rod of fresh solution directly upon the spot. If I were to electrolytic pickle that, and, as Dr. Graham said last night, put hydrogen on so as to reduce that oxide, use cathodic pickling, I could immediately get a copper spot. Collecting a number of samples of cold rolled steel, I got everything from -an immediate precipitation of the copper to two hours, according to the stock. So it is my opinion that Dr. Evans has explained a difficulty that has been experienced by platers with rolled steel and it is not a carbonized surface, but an oxidized surface, caused by the friction or the heat of the friction, due to rolling.”
Right here we cannot help but see that the film on the steel which Mr. Hogaboom could not dissolve with either acid or cyanide was nothing else but a carbonized or hydrogen film. But as he states himself with an electrolytic pickle he could remove this film of which he speaks.
Mr. Hogaboom accomplished two things with his electrolytic pickle—the hydrogen gas evolved removed the carbon or hydrogen film and the acid action removed the oxide. On the other hand he could have accomplished the same results without using the electrolytic pickle by going through a cleaning cycle of the same kind as mentioned in the nickel cleaning for chrome plating. So you can easily see that most of our trouble is always with us as most of the platers will not go into details and pay enough attention to facts as he goes along to be able to overcome some of his troubles.
You may notice on Slide No. 1, where we were using the nickel oxide type anode, that we started our solution with a pH of 5.4 and maintained the solution at that pH for thirteen days. The metallic concentration remained the same. The pH changed slightly. Once the pH changed to 5.6. Then after adding two gallons of hydrofluoric acid the pH changed to 5.3 and 5.4. Sodium perporate was added almost daily. The nickel chloride was maintained at 32 ounces per gallon, which dropped to three ounces per gallon. The nickel deposit was rough and sometimes it was almost impossible to buff the nickel. About the twelfth day we were instructed to chromium plate all parts, and we found at once that the nickel was too hard and that it would invariably peel off the minute we tried to chromium plate the same. Up to this point we did not check for boric acid.
It became evident at once that we had to change our pH in this solution. So we added four pounds of sodium carbonate and eight pounds of sodium perporate and then, by adding perporate every day, we finally brought our pH up to 5.8. At this point it was noticed that the metal concentration dropped one-half ounce per gallon. We then added 800 pounds of single nickel salt, which brought our metal concentration to 6 1/2 ounces per gallon. Our nickel chloride by this time went down to 2 3/8 ounces per gallon and the boric acid to three ounces per gallon. After examining our nickel anodes, we found that they were black and sponge-like. We decided not to add any nickel chloride at this time. We removed the anodes and cleaned them thoroughly, and then made bags from cheese cloth and put the anodes in the bags, figuring that we would be able to overcome the rough nickel deposit. As we had decided the nickel anodes were to blame for our trouble, the anodes by this time were a terrible looking sight.
We got in touch with the maker
of the anodes. After their metallurgist saw the anodes he gave instructions
to return the anodes. These anodes
were replaced with another type with a higher nickel oxide content. While
these anodes were much better than the first ones they were still rough
and oxide would form on the anode which required cleaning from time to
tine; and the nickel deposit would be just as rough as before. I might
state here that we were using 30 amperes per square foot and the solution
was operated at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The maker of the anodes now figured
that the high amperage caused some of the trouble. Filtering the nickel
solution only made matters worse, so we finally decided that some of
the trouble must be with us. I began to investigate cleaners, acid and
cyanide dips. You can well imagine that the cleaning salesmen began to
have some fun. We knew we had no reason to blame them, but we were out
to find the cause of our trouble and we blamed everybody we could think
of—even the composition manufacturers got into this.
About this time Mr. Gilchrist, who at that time was with the Ternstad
Manufacturing Company, one of the General Motors Divisions, decided that
he could not use 99 nickel anode and went back to 95 and 97. I decided
that I would not go back to that, so I kept on investigating and fighting
every day to overcome rough nickel.
(Show Slide No. 2.)
Slide No. 2 shows the same solution with the depolarized anode oxide
sulphuric type. The anode corrosion in this solution was more uniform
as far as the upkeep of the metal content of the solution was concerned.
Otherwise the anode was rough and did not corrode with a fine grain.
The nickel deposit was just as bad as in the other solution. In general
conditions prevailed just the same as in the first solution with the
nickel oxide type anode. You must remember that hydrofluric acid was
used in both of these solutions. This solution plated very rough.
George B. Hogaboom found that the same condition existed in his experiments, and an investigation of nickel solution Slide No. 1 and Slide No. 2 would in itself explain that what George B. Hogaboom found out about anode and cathode efficiency was true. (Anode efficiency—99.8; cathode efficiency—79.8.)
There is one item that Mr. Hogaboom overlooked. This item is: if the nickel deposit could be kept finely grained and free from rough nickel, with a slight modification one could get to the point of a self-sustaining nickel solution which in itself would be an ideal condition. So far I have not discovered how to overcome this condition and at the same time have a fine nickel deposit.
Slide No. 3.
This solution was made up without hydrofluric acid. For a period of
over a month, we added 3500 pounds of single nickel salt to keep
the metal
content uniform, also allowing drag-out of the solution. Two thousand
pounds of nickel chloride were added to keep the metal content and
the chloride content uniforrn. Our nickel chloride content was kept
around
five ounces per gallon. The pH of the nickel solution No. 3 was kept
constant or nearly so by the addition of hydrochloric acid-and sodium
perporate. We kept daily check on our solutions. Boric acid was kept
at four ounces per gallon. It required 1300 pounds of boric acid per
month to keep the boric acid at four ounces per gallon. We added 250
c.c. of hydrofluric acid during the month. The plating in this solution
was much better than before, but we could not get away from rough nickel.
Although the rough nickel was not as bad as in the other solutions,
we still had it with us and it caused a lot of trouble in nickel
buffing.
Slide No. 4.
In Slide No. 4 you may notice that we more than doubled or nickel chloride
content or in other words we brought it up to 11 ounces per gallon.
As we started our solution with more nickel chloride, our metallic
nickel
content was only 52 ounces and the pH at that time was 5.9. It required
3000 pounds of single nickel salt per month and 2000 pounds of nickel
chloride to keep the metal content and the nickel chloride content
constant. We had very little trouble controlling pH The pH was kept
constant by
two pints of hydrochloric acid and a slight variation of sodium perporate
from 4 to 6 pounds per day. We were able to hold the 4 ounces of boric
acid by the addition of 2000 pounds of boric acid during the month.
In addition to the boric acid we added 250 c.c. of hydrofluric acid
daily
to control the rough nickel deposit.
The nickel deposit from this solution was the lest that we were ever
able to obtain from any nickel solution we tried. The nickel coating
was very easy to buff and would never peel under any condition.
When one considers that we plated 3960 head lamps in nine hours with an average of three square feet to the lamp, figuring two square feet for the outside surface and allowing fifty per cent for the surface not directly exposed to the anode, and other parts such as side lamps, side lamp doors and head lamp doors—altogether about 21.284 square feet and 7128 square feet of reflector; the amount of nickel salt, nickel chloride and boric acid added during the month were actually carried out in the drag out. I feel that this type of solution shown in Slide 4 is as near perfect as one can get for general production work.
Show slides from 4 to 24 nickel anodes, 24 to 26 porous nickel deposit.
While the hour is getting late, and we have very little time left to go into further details about the plating situation, I do wish to make a few remarks about pitting. When we talk about pitting we get on dangerous ground at once. We all seem to know so much about pitting that on the face of everything that has been said and written by authors we really ought not to have any more trouble with it. Here are some of the causes of trouble given by certain writers: too high in acid, too low in acid, high current, dilute solution, undissolved air, oxygen organic matter and what not. If we know the real reason for pitting why haven’t we eliminated all this trouble? Supposing we have to cut a piece of wood ten inches long to fit in a certain space, we could not very well cut the piece of wood twenty inches long and expect it to fit in the space where ten inches is required. So I believe that with solutions under control and all other conditions under control it is impossible to have pitting.
I thank you.
Slide 5—Cast 90-92 per cent nickel. 75x.
Slide 6—Cast 95-97 per cent nickel.
Slide 7—Cast 95-97 per
cent nickel.
This illustrates what an anode looks like when there are high impurities.
Slide
8—Cast 95-97 per cent nickel.
If an anode is not scrubbed during its life the carbon and iron will
hold the original shape of the anode. The nickel will be leached out.
Note the core of cast nickel—all outside of the core is carbon
and iron.
Slide 9—There is no slide.
Slide10—Cast 99 per
cent nickel.
Note the structure especially along the outside edges where the solution
will attack the grain boundaries. This is better illustrated later
on. See slide number 13.
Slide 11—Cast 99 per
cent nickel.
The spots are nickel oxide. The nickel oxide is very high. The highest
it should be is about 1.10 per cent.
Slide 12—Cast 99 per cent nickel. This shows the intergrain boundaries clearly.
Slide 13—Cast 99 per
cent nickel.
This shows how No. 12 will be attacked in a plating solution. Note
how the intergrain boundaries have been dissolved and some grains of
nickel
are about to leave the anode before being dissolved in the solution.
The anode is disintegrated rather than corroded.
Slide 14—Electrolytic nickel. Starting sheet at the beginning of the deposit.
Slide 15—Electrolytic nickel annealed.
Slide16—Electrolytic
nickel rolled.
In No. 15 note the spaces between crystals.
In No. 16 it is shown that the crystals are not held together and the
metal will fall apart. That accounts for the metallics given off by
electrolytic nickel in a plating solution. Contrast this with a rolled
anode. See
No. 18.
Slide17—Cast nickel rolled—99
per cent.
Note that the grains do not hold together. I rolled at least 12 pieces
before I got this one. The slightest increase of pressure during the
rolling would cause this piece to break up into a number of small pieces.
This is characteristic of cast nickel at present.
Cast nickel must be heat treated and forged before it can be rolled.
An ingot 14 inches by 14 inches by 45 inches long is forged with a heavy
drop hammer to 3 inches wide by 2 inches thick before it is rolled for
anodes. For sheets it is rolled into slabs inches wide by 1/ inches thick.
Slide 18—Forged and rolled—99 per cent nickel. This piece is about .015 inches thick. If he dark lines are just light shadows when photographed.
Slide19—Rolled 99 per cent nickel. Picture of the outside edge of the cross section of an anode.
Slide 20—Same as No. 19, except the picture is of the center of the anode. Note the uniformity of the structure throughout the anode.
Slide 21—This slide shows you a Mond nickel oxide type anode as used in nickel solution as per slide No. 1 and No. 2
Slide 22—Shows you a depolarized nickel anode sulphur oxide type anode as used in solution as per slide No. 1 and No. 2.
Slide 23—Shows the Mond nickel anode of somewhat higher oxide than the first anode. This anode was used in solution as per slide No. 4 with 11 ounces of nickel chloride and 4 ounces boric acid.
Slide 24—Shows anode
depolarized of the sulphur oxide type used in solution No. 4 with 11
ounces nickel
chloride.
(Cuts mentioned here will be printed in June issue.)
A. E. S. PAGE
Assembled Expert Scraps With and Without Significance
Don’t Kick
If some brother is prospering or getting along a little better than you, let him prosper. Don’t grunt and grumble; don’t kick. Say a good word for him; look pleased and let it go at that.
If you see your Branch is getting along nicely, feel good about it. Help things along. Shove a little; try to get some of the benefit yourself. Don’t stand around like a bump on a log and waste your time feeling sore because some other brother has had the sand to forge ahead and prosper. Do a little hustling yourself, but don’t kick. If you can say a good word, say it like a man.
If you are sore and disposed to say something mean, keep your mouth shut. Don’t kick.
No man ever raised himself up permanently by kicking someone else down. We are helped when we help our brother. Be ready to give a kind word; give it liberally; it won’t cost you a cent, and you may want one yourself some day. You may be rolling in wealth today and raising whiskers tomorrow because you can’t raise the price of a shave. So don’t kick. You can’t afford it. There’s nothing in it.
Inflated
Northe: “What’s
a high pressure salesman?”
Weste: “A high pressure salesman is one who is full of compressed
wind, and we have met some fellows in our profession just this way.”
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but do not quit.
— Selected