HIGH-PERFORMANCE ELECTROLESS NICKEL PROCESS Enthone Inc., West Haven, Conn. ENPLATE EN-333 is a high-phosphorus electroless nickel process that provides superior corrosion protection while operating with high workloads (>0.75 ft2/gal) and at plating rates greater than 0.6 mil/hr. The process affords a more con- sistent plating rate and uniform coverage throughout the life of the solution versus traditional EN processes. ENPLATE EN-333 features a unique stabilizer system that minimizes plate-out in high bath loading situations while increasing throughput and decreasing total production costs. ENPLATE EN-333 yields a cadmium-free deposit that meets the GMW3059 specification. Circle 159 on reader information card

HIGH-PURITY ELECTROLESS NICKEL PROCESS Shipley LLC, Electronics and Industrial Finishing Div., Freeport, N.Y Shipley annotmces a new low-temperature high-purity electroless nickel process, Niposit LT Intended for the production demands for coating molded interconnect devices and other plastic components, this easy-to-control autocatalytic process is not thickness limited. It operates at 120” to 140°F (50°C) with a long bath life of 8 MT0 and a deposition rate of 6 micron (240 microinch)/hour. The deposits are bright to semibright with 4 to 6% phosphorous content. Production- proven in high-volume barrel operations for MID connector hous- ings, it operates economically as a conventional packaged system or an even more cost effectively as matrix of a stabilizer with com- modity chemical makeups. Circle 160 on reader information card

ELKCTROLESS NICKEL PiATlNG SOLUTION Okuno Chemicals, Osaka, Japan Okuno Chemicals has considerable experience in providing electroless nickel plating solutions for plastics and metals offering four big electroless nickel processes. Long-life type Top Nicroron LLS can be used more than 8 metal turnovers without new bath make up. High brightness Top Nicoron TOM can be used for gen- eral substrates. High-chemical-resistant Top Nicoron SA-98, P content ll%, has higher chemical stability, Top Nicoron GM has good adhesion as an underlayer for gold on printed wiring board. Circle 161 on reader information card

ELECtROLfSS NICKEL PLATlNG Varsal Inc., Warminster, Pa. Varsal Inc. announces the introduction of two new raw materials for electroless nickel plating formulations. Nickel hypophosphite, hexahydrate is in current use and R&D to extend bath life, while nickel methane sul- fonate solution is currently being explored in R&D. Both materials target the reduction or elimination of sulfate ions. Varsal is a bulk producer of sodium hypophosphite monohydrate. _ Circle 162 on reader information card

34 Metal Finishing