TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

ULTRABRITE 850
AN ADVANCED SEMI BRIGHT NICKEL PLATING
PROCESS
INTRODUCTION :
ULT R A BR IT E 8 5 0 is a s em i- br i gh t n ic k e l p la t in g pr oc es s , wh ic h pr od uc es
ex tr em el y d uc t i le s u l p hur f r ee s em i- b r i g ht n i c k el d e pos i ts h a v i ng v er y lo w s tr es s &
go o d l e ve l i n g c har ac te r is t ic s .

T he pr oc es s pr o v id es ex c e l l en t S .T . E. P. l i s t r es u lts an d o u t s t a nd i n g c or r os io n
r es is t anc e wh e n us e d as a n i n it i al l a ye r in a m ul ti l a ye r n ic k e l d e pos i t s e q ue nc e.
T he ULT R A BR IT E 8 5 0 pr oc es s d ep os its h a v e ex c el l e nt c o l o ur & un if or m i t y, t hus
ar e v er y e as y to c o v er wit h c o n v en t io n al br ig ht n ic k e l d ep os its .

1. ADV ANTAGES:
E lec tr op o te nt i a l d if f er enc e t o br i gh t n ic k el a dj us ta b l e 12 0- 1 70 m v.
G o od S.T . E. P . ac hi e v e m ent to p as s C A S S t e s t.
Ex c el l e nt t hr o wi ng po wer a t l o wes t c ur r en t de ns it i es .
De p os i ts wi t h c om pr es s i v e s tr es s , e as y to b e nd wi th o ut c r ac k f or m ati o n.
V er y g oo d ac c ep t anc e of h ig h s u l ph ur a n d br i gh t n ic k el .
E as y to us e a dd i t i ves wit h c l e ar l y def in e d pr o p er t i es , t h er ef or e , v er y e as y
to c o n tr o l .
Ec on om ic a l r u n n in g c o s t.

2. ROLE OF ADDITIVES:
ULT R A BR IT E 8 5 0 s ys t em is c o ns is t i ng of f ou r l i q ui d a d d it i v es :

ULTRABRITE 850A : It is a base brightener and is responsible for achieving good grain
refining properties and avoid burning. It also acts as a masking agent
for some metallic impurities. It is mainly used as make up additive.
ULTRABRITE 850B : ULTRABRITE 850B is a brightener and S.T.E.P. adjuster,
simultaneously that achieve uniform appearance & maintains a good
electro-potential. It is considered as brightener cum leveler
ULTRABRITE 850C : This is used as S.T.E.P. corrector used only for adjusting S.T.E.P. and
for trouble shooting.
ULTRABRITE 850W : ULTRABRITE 850W is a combination of surfactants that strongly
reduces the surface tension of the electrolyte and simultaneously
activates the surface for the next nickel deposit. It acts against pitting
and pore formation.
ULTRABRITE 850L : ULTRABRITE 850L is a special leveler and can used as and when
required after consulting with the representative of GTZ.
GETSAL Ni (SB) : Getsal Ni (SB) is make up and maintenance salt. It contains Nickel
sulphate, Nickel chloride & Boric acid etc.

Co nt : 2/-
 : 2:

3. INITI AL BATH MAKE UP:

Ran ge O pt im um

G E T S AL N i ( S B ) : 25 0- 4 50 g / L 35 0 g /L

ULTRABRITE 850A : 2 – 4 m l/L 3 ml

ULTRABRITE 850B : 0. 5 – 1 .5 m l/ L 1. 0 m l

ULTRABRITE 850C : 0. 3 – 0 .7 m l/ L 0. 5 m l/ L

ULTRABRITE 850W : 1- 2 m l/ L As r e q uir e d

4. ELECTROLYTIC COMPOSITION:
Range Optimum
Nic k e l s u l ph at e h ex ah yd r a t e ( g/ L) : 22 5 – 3 5 0 30 0

Nic k e l c h l or id e h ex a h ydr a t e ( g/ L) : 40 – 80 50

B or ic Ac id ( g/ L) : 38 - 4 8 45

T ota l N i M et a l ( g /L) : 60 – 90 75

5. OPERATING P ARAMETER:

Range Optimum
pH : 3. 5 - 4. 2 4. 0
o
Temperature ( C) : 50 - 6 0 55
2
Cathode current density (A/ft ) : 20 - 6 0 30
2
A n o d e C u r r e n t d e n s i t y ( A/ f t ) : 10 - 3 0 20
T a n k vo l t a g e ( vo l t ) : 4 - 10 6. 0
Anode : B ag g ed nic k e l a no d e p i ec es in
ti t an i um bas k e ts .

Plating speed : 1 m ic r on p er m in a t 50 Am p/f t 2

0. 6 m ic r on per m in a t 30 Am p/f t 2
Filtration : Co nt i n uo us , 2- 5 t a nk v o lum es
per ho ur t hr ou g hp ut 5 m ic r on
f il ter .

Agitation : Nec es s ar y. Pr ef er a b l y a ir ,
m ec han ic a l a ls o pos s i b le .

T a n k ve n t i l a t i o n : Nec es s ar y.

Ratio Anode / Cathode : 2 : 1

Co nt : 3 /-
 : 3:
6. EQUIPMENT :
T ank : P ol yp r o p yl e ne or s te e l wi t h K or os ea l or a ppr o v ed r ub b er l i n ed .

He at i ng & Coo li ng : T her m os ta t ic r e gu l at i o n wi t h T ef l o n or g l as s .

7. PROCEDURE FOR INITI AL BATH MAKE UP:

In to a s e par at e a n d c l ea n t ank , h ot wa ter is f il le d u p t o a ppr ox im at e l y 6 0% of
ta nk v o l um e.
A dd s lo wl y a nd c ar ef u l l y th e r e q u ir e d q u an t i t y of G ets a l N i ( S B) i nt o t he t a nk
wi t h s tir r i n g.
Co nt i n ue s t ir r i ng t o d i s s o l ve t h e s a lt p ar tic u l ar l y th e B or ic ac i d c o m pone n t.
A dd 3 g / L ac t i v at ed c ar b o n p o wde r in t o t he s o l ut i o n & s t ir f o r a tl e as t 3 0
m inut es , th e n s to p s t ir r i ng & a l lo w c ar bo n t o s et t le d o wn .
Fi lt er t h e s o lu t io n t hr ou g h a 5 m ic r om et er m es h f ilt er m ed ia in t o the wor k i ng
ta nk .
Mak e s ur e n o ac ti v e c ar b o n p ar t ic l es ar e i n th e wo r k in g s o l ut i on .
T op wor k i n g ta nk wit h wa ter up t o o p er a t io n l e ve l .
Me as ur e an d a dj us t p H.
A dd n ec es s ar y qu a nt i t y o f a dd i ti v es .
S wi tc h on c ir c u l at i o n f i lt er p um p.
A dj us t op er at i o n tem p er a t ur e .
Dum m y p la t e f or ap pr o x im ate l y 1 Am p hr / L.
T he ba t h s o lu t io n is n o w r e a d y f o r s tar t u p.

8. MAINTENANCE:
Un d er s ta n dar d pr o du c ti o n c on d it i o ns dos i n g of t he br i g ht e ner U L T RA BR IT E 8 50 B
to t h e b at h is ac c or di ng to Am p hr s . A dd i t i ons of br ig h te n er U LT RA B RIT E 8 50 B
s ho u l d n ot ex c e e d 0 .2 m l/L at o nc e . I t is al wa ys r ec om m end ed to m ak e c or r ec t i ve
ad d it i o ns i n s m al l d os es .

It is n or m al l y n ot nec es s ar y t o r e p le n is h U LT RA B RIT E 85 0 A. I t is us ed o n l y to
c om pens a te dr a g o u t l os s . T h e r ep l e nis hm en t a d di t io n f o r dr a g ou t is ab o ut 5- 10 %
ad d it i o n of U LT R A BR I T E 8 5 0 B.

ULT R AB R IT E 8 50 C : It is a s p ec i al ad d i ti v e g e ner a l l y us ed t o i nc r eas e t he

po t en t ia l dif f er enc e b et we e n s em i br i gh t an d b r i g ht N ic k e l d e pos i t. I t is n ot
r eq u ir ed f or r e gu l ar m aint e n anc e bu t f or m aint a i n in g s pec if ic h ig h er po te n ti a l
d if f er e nc e , th e r e gu l ar m ai nt e na nc e c an b e m ad e af t er c o n s u lt i ng wi t h th e
r ep r es e nt at i v e of G T Z. T h e ap pr ox im ate c ons um pt i on r a te is 2 5– 7 5 m l/ K AH
de p en d i ng o n dr a g ou t los s es . I t is s l i gh t l y vo l at i l e in n at ur e a nd h e nc e
c ons um pt i on r a t e m a y v ar y d ep e nd i n g on op e r at i ng t em per a tur e a ls o.

ULT R AB R IT E 85 0W : It is us e d as an t ip i tt i ng a g en t an d no t c ons um ed
e lec tr oc h em ic a l l y. F o r dr a g o u t l os s es a dd i t io n of s m al l q u a nt i ti es m a y be
r eq u ir ed . F or pr ac t ic a l p ur p os e an a d di t io n of 2 00 - 2 5 0 m l of U l tr abr i te 8 5 0W per
5. 0 K L wo r k in g b at h p er d a y is s uf f ic i en t to m aint a i n th e r e q ui r em en t.

pH : The pH of Ultrabrite 850 system should be checked frequently (preferably every

two hrs interval) and should be maintained within the specific range of 3.5 – 4.2 . To
lower pH, add 25% sulphuric acid and to increase pH use Nickel carbonate through a
filter bag.

C on t: 4/ -
 : 4:

A c o ns um pt i o n r at e is g i ve n b e lo w as a n us e f ul g u id e u nt i l a m or e ac c ur a te r at e of
c ons um pt i on is es t a bl i s he d b y o p er at i ng ex p er ie nc e at par t ic u l ar p l an t.

ULT R A BR IT E 8 5 0A = 30 – 50 m l/ K AH
ULT R A BR IT E 8 5 0B = 22 0 – 2 6 0 m l/ K A H

9. TROUBLE SHOOTING:
P rob le m Cau s e Re me d y

P oor S.T . E. P . Lack of ULT RA BR IT E 850B Add step corrector to

po t en t ia l . or lack of S.T.E.P. corrector optimize S.T.E.P. potential.
ULT R A BR IT E 850C.
P it f or m at io n Lack of wetting agent Add 1 ml/L Ultrabrite 850W.
ULT R A BR IT E 850W

Drug in of oil and other Avoid drag in of organics.

impurities
P er m ane n t l os s of Foreign organic contamination. Do carbon treatment.
c om pr es s i ve s t r es s

10. ANALYTICAL CONTROL :

Ni ck e l :
P ip e tt e 2. 0m l c o ol e d s am pl e of N ic k e l ba t h i nt o 2 5 0 m l Er l enm a ye r f las k a n d a dd
10 . 0 m l c o nc e n tr a t e d am m oni a, a p i nc h of m ur ex i d e i n d ic at or an d t itr at e
im m ed ia te l y wi th s t a n dar d 0 . 05 7 5 ( M) E DT A s o l ut i on an d o bs er v e c o lo ur c h a ng es
f r om li g ht br o wn t o v i o l et a t th e e n d po i nt .

Nic k e l ( as m eta l) in g / L = m l. of 0. 05 7 5( N ) E DT A X 1 .6 8 8.

Ni ck e l Chl or id e :
P ip e tt e 5 m l c o o le d s o lu t io n, di l ut e wi t h 75 m l D M / d is t i l l ed wat er , a d d 1. 0 g
Ca lc i um Car b o na t e & 5 m l 1% P o tas s i um Chr om at e i n d ic a t or . T itr a te wi t h 0. 1( N)
S i l ver N i tr at e to a buf f c o l our f r om ye l l o w t ur b id i t y.

Nic k e l C hl or i de ( Hex a h ydr a te) ( g/ L) = m l of 0. 1( N ) S i l ver N i tr at e X 2 .3 7 80 .

Ni ck e l Su lph at e :
4. 4 8 { N ic k el M e ta l /L – 0. 2 47 ( g N ic k e l C hl or i de 6H 2 O / L) }

Bo ri c Ac i d :
P ip e tt e 1 0 m l c o ol e d ba t h s o l ut i on i nt o 2 5 0 m l. Er le nm a ye r f l as k . Ad d ab o ut 10 g of
Ma n n it o l to f or m a s lu r r y. T i tr a t e wi th 1 . 0( N) S o di um H yd r ox i de s o l ut i on us i ng 1 m l
br om oc r es o l p ur p le in d ic a tor f r om gr e en t o b lu e e nd po i nt .

B or ic Ac id ( g/ L) = m l o f 1. 0 ( N) S o d ium H yd r ox id e X 6 . 23 .

C o nt : 5/-
 : 5:

12. S AFETY:
ULT R A BR IT E 8 50 A , B, C & W do n ot c o nt a in h ar m f ul in gr e di e nt s b ut t he s ys t em
is h a v i ng N ic k el m et a l a n d a pH of 2- 3. T ak e al l p r ec a ut i on ar y m eas ur es i n
ha n d li n g i n dus tr ia l c h e m ic al i n g e ner a l.

13. DISPOS AL:

T he s ys tem c on ta i ns Nic k e l as m et al . P r e c i pi t at e N ic k el as N ic k el h yd r ox i d e /
c ar b o n at e. Se p ar at e t he pr ec i p it at e a n d s u per n at a nt li q u id c an b e d is c har g ed b y
m aint a i n in g l oc al r eg u l at i on .

14. P ACKING:
5/ 3 0 L HD P E C on t ai n e r .

15. BEST BEFORE END:

1 ye a r f r om t he m on t h of M a nuf ac t ur in g .

NO T E : The “Initial Bath Make-up” and “Operating Parameters” mentioned herein are normal for
most installations. However, GTZ representative may suggest a deviation from this data to
meet specification requirement or local conditions.

GTZ (INDIA) PRIVATE LIMITED

9, Brabourne Road, Kolkata-700 001, India
91-33 2242 9900/01 Fax : 91-33 2210 7634
RE V I SIO N NO . 5. 0 E-Mail Address : connect@gtzworld.com
Issued on :- August 2018 W eb sit e : w w w .gt z w orld . com
S up er sed e a ll e ar l ier i ss ue s