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Expt Nichem Boren: Preliminary Data Sheet
Expt Nichem Boren: Preliminary Data Sheet
Version:
EN LOW P BORON
Doc.-No.:
DATA SHEET SAP-No.:
CONTENTS
1. Process Information................................................................................................................................. 2
2. Typical Deposit Properties ...................................................................................................................... 2
3. Equipment ............................................................................................................................................... 3
4. Preparation of Plating Tank and Equipment ........................................................................................... 4
5. Make-Up .................................................................................................................................................. 5
6. Working Parameters ................................................................................................................................ 5
7. Plating Rate and Phosphorus Content .................................................................................................... 6
8. Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................ 6
9. pH Control ............................................................................................................................................... 7
10. Tools ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
11. General Notes ......................................................................................................................................... 8
12. Determination of Nitrate Contamination .................................................................................................. 9
13. SAP No. for Make-Up and Maintenance Products .................................................................................. 9
14. Specific Gravity for Make-Up and Maintenance Products....................................................................... 9
15. Analytical Instructions ............................................................................................................................10
Determination of Nickel by Titration.......................................................................................................10
Determination of Sodium Hypophosphite by Titration ..........................................................................12
Determination of Orthophosphite by Titration .......................................................................................14
16. Waste Disposal...........................................................................................................................166
17. General Safety Precautions ................................................................................................................166
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1. Process Information
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN is a metal-free stabilized electroless nickel process and therefore complies with the
international ELV regulations (End of Life Vehicle) as well as the RoHS / WEEE directive.
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN produces a matte surface appearance of a nickel alloy with 2 – 5 % phosphorus and
0.4-0.2% boron content.
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN has a high deposition rate of 15 – 20 µm/h over the whole bath life and is tolerant to
metal contamination. When proper operating parameters are followed, up to 8 MTO are attained.
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN is suitable for functional engineering applications that require high as-plated
hardness and good wear resistance. The deposit can be heat-treated to further increase the coating hardness.
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN deposit stress is moving from tensile to neutral throughout the life of the solution.
Good adhesion with the MS base material
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3. Equipment
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IMPORTANT NOTE: Never omit this stage. Before making up a new solution, it is
essential that the following steps be performed. Do not rely on visual examination.
Never take short cuts. They will always increase the cost of your electroless nickel
plating, reduce production rate and produce poor quality deposits.
1. Completely discharge spent solution to waste treatment system as per federal, state and local regulations
and permits.
2. Remove old filter cartridge(s) or bag(s) and discard. Reseal filter unit for stripping. Fully fill plating tank
over the working level with nitric acid solution (1 : 1 diluted with DI water).
Note: The Ni concentration of the stripping solution should be < 15 g/l Ni.
3. Re-circulate nitric acid solution through all pumps, filter housings, hoses, pipes, air agitation spiders and
other surfaces which normally contact the working electroless nickel solution.
Note: Do not use air agitation. The air spider should be filled with acid. If possible, allow overnight stripping
to ensure complete stripping and / or passivation of stainless steel tanks.
For increased stripping activity, the solution can be heated up to ~ 40 °C (104°F).
5. Pump clean water through all the hoses, filters, pumps, tanks, etc., where nitric acid was present. Rinse
thoroughly.
6. Fill tank with water to above the nitric acid level and add a small quantity of ammonium hydroxide. Circulate
this solution for 1 – 2 hours while turning the air agitator pump on and off occasionally. This will ensure that
all the nitric acid is neutralized. Nitric acid is difficult to completely remove by only rinsing.
7. Drain the system and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Test the rinse water for nitrate (see chapter
11 of this data sheet). If no nitrate is found, continue with Step #8. If nitrate is present, continue flushing
the system with water and testing until the nitrate contamination has been eliminated.
8. Install new filter cartridges, bags etc. Ensure all new filter cartridges and bags are leached with sulfuric acid
(5 % (v/v)) if needed prior to use.
9. Repair any malfunctioning equipment or leaks that were noted during previous production cycle.
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5. Make-Up
IMPORTANT NOTE: Always read and understand SDSs for all chemicals involved in
the make-up activity below and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Selection should be based upon the chemistry being used.
6. Working Parameters
Content of Nickel 5.0 g/l (4.5 – 5.5 g/l) (See also chapter 10)
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The plating rate of EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN and the resulting phosphorus content of the deposit are primarily
a function of operating temperature, pH, reducer content and age of the solution.
Plating Phosphorus
Parameter Change
rate content
Temperature, pH, reducers
Solution age
8. Maintenance
IMPORTANT NOTE: Always read and understand SDSs for all chemicals involved in
the maintenance activity below and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Selection should be based upon the chemistry being used.
Regular analysis of the nickel metal content is used as the basis for additions of EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN - A,
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN - C and EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN –E. Refer to TABLE 1 for the replenishment
schedule.
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -A replenishes the nickel metal in the bath. Optimum EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -A
concentration is 50 ml/l and this corresponds to a nickel concentration of 5.0 g/l.
To increase the nickel concentration by 1 g/l, add 10.0 ml/l of EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -A.
One metal turnover (MTO) is achieved when 50 ml/I of EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -A have been added. Per
MTO, the Orthophosphate content will increase by ~ 10 g/l.
Replenishment was done with both the reducer to maintain the concentration throughout the bath life.
Optimum EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -C concentration is 50 ml/l and this corresponds to a sodium
hypophosphite concentration of 13 g/l. To increase the sodium hypophosphite by 1 g/l, add 3.8 ml/l of EXPT
NICHEM 11 BOREN -C.
Optimum EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN –E concentration is 35 ml/l and this corresponds to a dimethyl amino
borane (DMAB) concentration of 3.3 g/l.
Evaporation losses of the EN solution should be replenished with DI water (< 10 µS).
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TABLE 1
Replenishment Schedule for EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN Bath
9. pH Control
The use of a properly calibrated pH meter is strongly recommended. Measurements should be made on a
sample cooled to room temperature. The mixed replenisher will hold the pH reasonably constant, but the
solution pH should be regularly checked at least once per shift and adjustments made to keep the pH within the
range 6.25 – 6.35 (6.3 optimum).
To increase the pH, use 50 % (v/v) ammonia solution. Do not use sodium or potassium hydroxide or carbonate
to adjust pH. To lower the pH, add 20 % (v/v) sulfuric acid.
Operating the EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN bath outside the recommended pH range has the following adverse
effects:
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10. Tools
In some applications, the use of tools can be necessary. Please consult an Atotech representative before using
tools.
Nichem WA:
For the reduction of surface tension which prevents formation of pores and pitting.
For details refer to the TDS of EXPT NICHEM WA (SAP No.: 1679370).
Maintenance additions should be made as frequently as possible so that the optimum plating rate and deposit
characteristics are obtained.
It is NOT recommended to operate EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN solutions below 90 % strength. If this occurs,
make adjustments in several small additions during the shift.
As in all plating procedures, proper cleaning/activation of basis metals is essential. Contact your local Atotech
representative for specific procedures and cycles.
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN is tolerant to many impurities; however, all electroless nickel solutions are adversely
affected by drag-in of specific impurities, e.g. Al, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, Sn, organo-sulfur compounds and
certain surface-active materials.
To minimize the drag-in of impurities into the EN tank, it is recommended to use DI water in the last rinse before
the EN tank.
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Nitrate contamination of electroless nickel baths will cause slow plating rates and produce deposits having lower
than normal phosphorus contents. Such contamination most often occurs after the tank has been etched with
nitric acid and the tank, piping and associated equipment is improperly rinsed with water.
Ion selective papers are available which allow nitrate to be determined in both the EN plating solution and in the
®¹
make-up water in the range of 10 – 500 mg/l. These strips are manufactured by EM QUANT and are available
from VWR Scientific Products.
PRODUCT SG (g/cm³)
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -A 1.250
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -B 1.144
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN -C 1.154
EXPT NICHEM 11 BOREN –E 0.96
NICHEM WA 1.005
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IMPORTANT NOTE: Always read and understand SDSs for all chemicals involved in
the analytical activity below and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Selection should be based upon the chemistry being used.
Version:
*
Reagent required
Ammonia conc.
Murexide indicator solution (1 : 200 ground with NaCl)
0.1 M EDTA volumetric solution
Please follow the general regulations for hazardous materials in the SDSs!
The analytical procedure is to be followed exactly.
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants.
Procedure
**
5.0 ml nickel bath are pipetted into a 300 ml Erlenmeyer flask. Add
100 ml DI water, 10 ml ammonia conc. and 1 spatula tip murexide indicator solution.
***
Titrate with 0.1 M EDTA volumetric solution until the color of the solution changes
from yellow to violet-blue.
The number of ml of 0.1 M EDTA volumetric solution used – multiplied by 1.174 – gives the content of nickel in
g/l.
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Example:
During titration of 5.0 ml bath, 5.1 ml of 0.1 M EDTA solution was used.
Calculation:
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials, please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
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Version:
Determination of Sodium Hypophosphite by Titration Doc.-No.:
Reagents required*:
Please follow the general regulations for hazardous materials in the SDSs!
The analytical procedure is to be followed exactly.
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants.
Procedure:
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Calculation:
Example:
During titration of 1.0 ml sample, 14.2 ml of 0.1 M Na2S2O3-volumetric solution was used.
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials, please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
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Version:
Determination of Orthophosphite by Titration Doc.-No.:
Reagents required*:
Please follow the general regulations for hazardous materials in the SDSs!
The analytical procedure is to be followed exactly.
Be sure to observe all local regulations concerning the permitted limits for
pollutants.
Procedure:
1)
1.0 ml**of the sample is placed into a 250 ml iodine flask and add
approx. 80 ml of DI water,
20 ml of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and
25.0 ml** of 0.05 M iodine volumetric solution. Afterwards, place it closed in the dark for 30 min. Then add
20 ml of acetic acid and titrate with
0.1 M sodium thiosulfate volumetric solution, until the color changes from brown to bright-yellow. After an
addition of
1 ml of the starch solution, the solution is titrated with 0.1 M sodium thiosulfate volumetric solution, until the
dark blue color in the solution completely disappeared.
1)
With the chosen volumes. a determination of orthophosphite is possible to approx. 90 g/l.
With higher contents, the sample volume must be cut in half and the calculation factor must
be doubled correspondingly.
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Calculation:
Example:
During titration of 1.0 ml sample, 5.8 ml of 0.1 M sodium thiosulfate volumetric solution was used.
During titration of 0.5 ml sample, 12.0 ml of 0.1 M sodium thiosulfate volumetric solution was used.
Quality assurance: For maintenance, calibration of measuring devices and the use of
standards and reference materials, please refer to the corresponding guidelines.
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This material must be disposed of in accordance with all applicable federal, state, provincial, and local
regulations and permits. Consult the SDS for additional regulatory information. The information contained herein
is general in nature and may not apply to each application.
This sheet shall serve for your information. The content of the sheet is based on our best Atotech Deutschland GmbH
knowledge. We do not undertake any duty to advise. The contents of the sheet shall not P.O. Box: 21 07 80
be considered as an agreement on condition and quality of the goods delivered. 10507 Berlin, Germany
The decision to use our products for its production purposes is the responsibility of our Erasmusstraße 20
customer. We can accept liability only for the quality of our products at delivery. If 10553 Berlin, Germany
difficulties arise in the application of our products, we propose that you contact our phone +49 (0) 30 349 85 0
technical service department. fax +49 (0) 30 349 85 777
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