Description
Nickel Sulphate Hexahydrate 98% Plating Grade
Nickel Sulphate Hexahydrate 98% Plating Grade (CAS 10101-97-0, molecular formula NiSO4·6H2O) is a process chemical for electronics and metal finishing, where trace metal content and particle contamination matter as much as headline assay. China Chemicals supplies it at 98% min in pack sizes from 1 kg through to 500 kg Pallet, so laboratory trial quantities and full production volumes can be sourced from the same specification.
It is also traded as Nickelous Sulphate, Nickel(II) Sulphate Hexahydrate. Every consignment ships with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis and the current Safety Data Sheet, and material is stored and picked under stock rotation so you receive product well inside its shelf life.
Typical applications
- Watts and sulphamate nickel electroplating baths
- Electroless nickel deposition on electronics
- Nickel salt for battery precursor manufacture
- Metal surface conversion and blackening
- Catalyst intermediate production
Technical specification
| Chemical name | Nickel Sulphate Hexahydrate 98% Plating Grade |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Nickelous Sulphate, Nickel(II) Sulphate Hexahydrate |
| CAS number | 10101-97-0 |
| Molecular formula | NiSO4·6H2O |
| Appearance | Emerald green crystals |
| Assay | 98.0% min |
| Nickel content | 22.0% min |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.001% max |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.001% max |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.002% max |
| Water insolubles | 0.01% max |
Values above are typical and are confirmed on the Certificate of Analysis issued against each batch. Tighter specifications can be quoted where a process requires them.
Packaging and supply
Available in 1 kg, 5 kg, 25 kg Drum, 500 kg Pallet. Bulk, road tanker and export drum quantities are quoted on request, including FOB and CIF terms for international shipment. Pricing shown is per pack in USD, exclusive of freight and any applicable duties.
Handling and safety
Transport classification: UN3077. Confirm the proper shipping name, hazard class and packing group against the current SDS and transport documents before shipping. Primary health hazard: Toxic, may cause allergic skin reaction. Store in the original closed container in a cool, well-ventilated area away from incompatible materials, and handle using appropriate personal protective equipment. Read the Safety Data Sheet in full before use — it is issued with every order and is available on request before purchase. Supply to industry only. Products are sold for legitimate industrial, laboratory and manufacturing use. We may request end-use details and business registration before releasing an order.
What Is Nickel Sulphate Hexahydrate?
Nickel sulphate hexahydrate (NiSO4·6H2O) is the emerald-green crystalline salt that supplies nickel ions to most nickel plating baths. It dissolves readily in water, and this plating grade is specified for low impurity levels: copper and iron at 0.001% maximum each, zinc at 0.002% maximum, and water insolubles at 0.01% maximum. Purity matters because plating quality depends on keeping the bath free of metallic and organic contaminants.
Why Nickel Sulphate Is the Standard Nickel Salt
In a Watts bath, the most widely used nickel plating solution, nickel sulphate hexahydrate provides the bulk of the nickel. It is the least expensive nickel salt, and the sulphate ion is stable at both electrodes, since it is neither reduced at the cathode nor oxidised at the anode. It also has little effect on the properties of the deposit.
Nickel chloride is added in smaller amounts to help the anode dissolve and improve conductivity. Boric acid acts as a weak buffer that holds the pH at the cathode surface; see Boric Acid. A standard Watts bath uses nickel sulphate in the region of 240–300 g per litre.
Applications
Nickel sulphate hexahydrate is the nickel source for decorative and engineering nickel plating, for electroless nickel plating, and for sulphate-chloride baths used on strip steel. It is often used in a finishing line alongside copper plating chemistry such as Copper Sulphate. Nickel sulphate is also a raw material for nickel-based battery cathode materials, though battery work normally calls for a separate battery-grade specification, so tell us your target if that is your use.
Health and Environmental Hazards: Read Before Handling
Nickel sulphate hexahydrate is a hazardous substance. It may cause cancer if its dust is inhaled, may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties, and may cause an allergic skin reaction. It may damage fertility or the unborn child, is suspected of causing genetic defects, can damage the lungs after prolonged or repeated inhalation, and is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Keep dust to a minimum, use local exhaust ventilation, and wear respiratory protection where dust cannot be controlled. Wear gloves and eye protection, and wash well after handling. People with a nickel allergy and anyone who is pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid exposure. Never discharge nickel solutions to drains, and dispose of waste in line with local rules. Always follow the current safety data sheet and your workplace exposure limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is nickel sulphate hexahydrate used in nickel plating?
It is the least expensive nickel salt, supplies the bulk of the nickel ions, and the sulphate ion is stable at both electrodes and has little effect on deposit properties.
What goes in a Watts nickel bath?
Nickel sulphate for the nickel, nickel chloride for anode corrosion and conductivity, and boric acid as a pH buffer. The exact concentrations depend on the process.
Is nickel sulphate hexahydrate hazardous?
Yes. It is a carcinogen if inhaled, a respiratory and skin sensitiser, and a reproductive toxicant, and it is very toxic to aquatic life. Control dust and follow the safety data sheet.
Why do impurity limits matter in plating grade?
Metallic contaminants such as copper, iron and zinc can degrade the deposit and the bath, so a plating grade limits them tightly. This grade limits copper and iron to 0.001% each.
What packaging and order quantities are available?
We supply nickel sulphate hexahydrate from trial quantities through to full bulk orders. Contact us with your required volume for current pricing and lead time.
For further independent reference, see the Wikipedia entry on nickel(II) sulfate and the overview of nickel electroplating, and browse our full Electronic Chemicals range.
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