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Microelectronics

Nickel Plating
Market Application Publication

Application:

Nickel is widely used in hard disk
drive manufacturing as a conducting
material. The nitride film is commonly
deposited in batch plating baths using
Nickel sulfate solution and certain
surfactants. Filtration is performed
in a recirculation loop in a multiple-
round housing of 20-inch or 30-inch
cartridges.

Contact Information: Challenge:

Parker Hannifin Corporation The most commonly used filter for clean out the system and prevent
Process Advanced Filtration Division this application is a PES (Poly Ether excessive ‘plate out’. This is typically
2340 Eastman Avenue Sulfone) or PS (Polysulfone) membrane a 60-80°C aqueous mixture up to
Oxnard, California, USA 93030 with PP (Polypropylene) supports 40% acid concentration, which
and hardware. These materials are weakens the polypropylene materials
Toll Free: +1 877 784 2234 compatible with most Ni plating and forces premature change-outs.
Phone: +1 805 604 3400 bath chemistries and provide a cost- Lifetime of the standard filter is only
Fax: +1 805 604 3401 effective solution. While the standard one month. The challenge is to find a
PAFsales@parker.com bath chemistries do not require very filter that will be compatible with the
resilient materials, a nitric acid flush plating chemistry and nitric flushes
www.parker.com is performed after each batch run to while reducing overall filtration costs.