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Image analysis for maintenance of coating quality in nickel electroplating baths--real time control
1Departamento de Química Aplicada, Facultad de Química, Universidad del País Vasco, San Sebastián, Spain.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|October 15, 2011
Summary
This study demonstrates using scanner images to monitor nickel plating baths. The developed software analyzes image color data to control additive concentrations, ensuring plating quality.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Process Engineering
Background:
- Nickel plating processes rely on specific additives that degrade over time.
- Monitoring additive concentration is crucial for maintaining plating quality.
- Traditional methods for monitoring may not be suitable for real-time process control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the extraction of analytical information from flatbed scanner images.
- To apply this information for real-time control of a nickel plating process.
- To develop a software solution for process operators to monitor and adjust additive levels.
Main Methods:
- Acquisition of digital images of plated steel sheets in a nickel bath.
- Development of dedicated software to process RGB images, focusing on the red channel.
- Calculation of histogram, mean color value (MCV), and standard deviation of red channel data.
- Correlation of MCV with the concentration of additives Supreme Plus Brightner (SPB) and SA-1.
Main Results:
- The software successfully extracts analytical data from scanner images.
- MCV is determined to be a reliable indicator of SPB and SA-1 concentrations.
- The system can identify when plating quality is compromised due to additive degradation.
- The software provides recommendations for adding SPB and SA-1 to maintain optimal plating quality.
Conclusions:
- Flatbed scanner imaging coupled with dedicated software offers a viable method for real-time monitoring and control of nickel plating baths.
- This approach enables operators to maintain consistent plating quality by managing critical additive concentrations.
- The developed software provides an accessible tool for immediate process adjustments, improving efficiency and product quality.
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