Determination of Nickel Chloride concentration in Nickel plating baths

Nickel chloride plays a key role in nickel plating baths, a galvanic process used to coat various materials, including iron, copper, brass, steel and zamak, for both decorative and technical-functional purposes. The composition of the nickel plating bath can be modulated by varying the concentration of components and operating conditions, allowing specific coating characteristics to be obtained according to application requirements. Nickel chloride, in particular, is essential to ensure proper anodic dissolution and improve the conductivity of the bath. Monitoring and analysis of its concentration is critical to ensure uniform nickel deposition and avoid defects in the coating, such as burning or nodularity.

Method

Test type: End Point.

Testing time: 4 minutes.

Analysis sessions with multiple samples are possible up to a maximum of 16 tests for CDR GalvanLab^® and 3 tests for CDR GalvanLab^® Junior.

Step 1/23

The same dilution can be used for the determination of total nickel and nickel chloride.

Step 2/23

Dilute the sample to 1:20. Dilute by adding 50 ul of sample to the dilution cuvette (code *400195). The proper working procedure is described in the following slides.

Step 3/23

Collect 50 µL of sample with a pipette. Use a new tip for each test to prevent contamination from previous samples.

Step 4/23

Carefully clean the outside of the pipette tip with blotting paper, avoiding contact between the extremity of the tip and the paper.

Step 5/23

Place the sample in the dilution cuvette. Keeping the tip immersed in reagent, press and release the piston of the pipette several times.

Step 6/23

Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.

Step 7/23

Place the test tubes containing reagent R1 in one of the incubation cells and let them warm for at least 5 minutes.

Step 8/23

Collect 300 µL of R1a with a pipette.

Step 9/23

Add 300 µL of R1a to the cuvette containing reagent R1 without touching the tip in the liquid. In case of contamination, replace the tip.

Step 10/23

Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.

Step 11/23

Collect 20 µL of diluted sample with a pipette. Use a new tip for each test to prevent contamination from previous samples.

Step 12/23

Carefully clean the outside of the pipette tip with blotting paper, avoiding contact between the extremity of the tip and the paper.

Step 13/23

Place the sample in the cuvette. Keeping the tip immersed in reagent, press and release the piston of the pipette several times.

Step 14/23

Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.

Step 15/23

Place the cuvette in one of the incubation cells and start the timer by pressing the timer icon.

Step 16/23

Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.

Step 17/23

Select the cuvette to be read from the display. Place the cuvette in the cell marked with the blue light and press READ.

Step 18/23

Collect 20 µL of R2 with the pipette.

Step 19/23

Add 20 µL of R2 to the cuvette without touching the tip in the liquid, R1 + sample. In case of contamination, replace the tip.

Step 20/23

Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.

Step 21/23

Place the cuvette in one of the incubation cells and start the timer by pressing the timer icon.

Step 22/23

Gently shake the cuvette 2-3 times.

Step 23/23

Place the cuvette in the cell marked with the blue light and press READ to perform the photometric reading.

Sample treatment

The sample must be diluted.

Principle of the test

Nickel Chloride content is determined, after dilution, by reaction with a chromogen. The test has a total duration of 4 minutes at the end of which a spectrophotometric reading is taken: the signal detected is directly correlated with the concentration of Nickel Chloride.

Calibration curve

Calibration curve was obtained by correlating the CDR method with the reference method.

Reagent test Kits

Code *400170: 100 test

Code *400175: 10 test

The reagents have a shelf-life of 12 months

Measuring range

Analyses	Measuring range	Resolution	Repeatability
Nickel chloride nickel bath	25 - 90 g/L	0.100 g/L	0.6 g/L

The chemical analysis instruments for electroplating baths

CDR GalvanLab®

Complete analysis panel, supplied already configured
Up to 16 determinations simultaneously
Possibility of carrying out analyses of the same sample
Integrated printer
Full connections (LAN - USB - Bluetooth barcode/QR code reader)

CDR GalvanLab® Jr

Partial analysis panel, customisable configuration
Up to 3 determinations simultaneously
Wireless connection to external printer
USB connections

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