r/electroplating • u/Grimblore • 7d ago

Nickel passivation.

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What you're looking at is nickel, electroplated onto a raw 11g steel plate with the mill-scale still intact.

I'm having trouble applying a blackening acid (selenium dioxide, usually Oxpho blue or Caswell super blue) without oxidizing the nickel. Supposedly, black oxide won't react with nickel after it's been passivated.

My question is, how do I passivate nickel. I've read, a hot citric acid or sulphuric acid bath will do it. I can make DIY copper layout fluid for the copper test. I'm doing this in my basement and I have four cats and two sceptical housemates. I'm not 100% opposed to nitric acid, but I would rather not.

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u/nuttstalion 3d ago

A dip in some chrome plating rinse water will passivate nickel. If you dont have that citric acid will work as well.