Brightener

Name:
Brightener
Detailed information:
A compound that when added to a nickel-plating formulation of the Watts type (nickel sulfate and nickel chloride in a six-to-one ratio plus boric acid) will yield a bright, reflective finish. There are two types: (1) naphthalenedisulfonic acids, diphenyl sulfonates, aryl sulfonamides, etc., which give bright deposits on polished surfaces; and (2) metal ions having high hydrogen overvoltage in acid solution (zinc, cadmium, selenium, etc.) and unsaturated organic compounds such as thiourea, acetylene derivatives, azo dyes, etc., which give mirror brightness as a result of their “leveling” action. Usually both types are used for maximum effectiveness.See Leveling; Optical Brightener.