EFFECT OF BRIGHTENER SYSTEMS ON THE CATHODE AND ANODE EFFICIENCIES OF NICKEL PLATING SOLUTIONS.

Claims have been made by commercial platers of increasing nickel solution enrichment on changing from one form of nickel anode material to another. Cathode and anode efficiency measurements showed that while the cathode efficiencies of freshly prepared solutions ranged between 70 and 99%, those of commercially worked solutions were in a narrower range between 85 and 99%. In both cases efficiencies fell as the current density was reduced from 4 to 1A/dm**2. The anode efficiency in all solutions was between 99 and 102%, independent of anode material and solution. The results show that any changes in solution enrichment are caused by a change in cathode efficiencies due either to changes in operating conditions or more probably changes in the brightener systems. A change of anode material is without influence.