What type of nickel plating should I use for my application, watts, bright or sulfamate?
Nickel plating is an important electro deposition process for preserving steel, brass and other basis metals from corrosion. Plated as a bright deposit often combined with chromium, nickel is the most effective electroplated coating for preserving a decorative appearance for extended periods of time in corrosive environments. Nickel electro deposition is also popular for engineering applications as a non-decorative functional plate. Bright nickel electroplated for decorative uses differs appreciably from non-decorative nickel deposits. The high sulfur content (>0.05%) of the bright deposit reduces its ductility and corrosion resistance. Bright deposits are typically deposited from the watts formulation (see below) with the addition of organic-sulfur “brightening systems.” Engineering deposits are typically deposited from the watts bath less brighteners (commonly referred to as watts non-bright) or from sulfamate chemistries (see below). Brightness in nickel deposits is induced with org
