Scope of this guide
Management version: this defect as cost and risk — the metrics, audit points and claim defence.
Series: finishing.com recurring questions answered with platingclub line practice. Parameters are industry-standard starting ranges — confirm against your supplier TDS.
Triage: symptom → confirm → first move
| Symptom | Likely root | Confirm by | First move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uniform haze all over | Metallic contamination (Cu, Zn) | Hull cell: dull low-CD band | Dummy plate at low CD |
| Cloudy streaks that follow rack | Wetter shortage / surface tension | Stalgmometer reading | Titrate to 35–45 dyn/cm |
| Cloud with pinprick pits | Organics + gas | Hull cell banding | Carbon trial before dosing |
| Haze on castings only | Base metal drag-in (Zn) | By-alloy pattern | Segregate alloys; check strike |
| Haze after maintenance day | Work done: filter change, make-up | Revert one change | Restore and re-verify |
Cost, metrics and defence
| Cost line | Driver | Metric | Lever |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dummy plates | Late detection of metallics | Hull cell log completeness | Weekly panel, same time |
| Brightener spend | Blind dosing | L per Amp-hour trend | Consumption curve per bath |
| Rework | Cloud escapes to chrome | FPY by defect family | Nickel gate before chrome |
| Claims | Haze under chrome found later | PPM by customer | Storage-test samples |
Engineer notes
- One variable per corrective action; verify with the confirm-by column.
- Records beat memory: log every trial on the tank card.
- Two failed actions in a row is a senior call — escalate with your log.
Safety: nickel baths are skin sensitisers and dummy plating runs live tanks unattended overnight — check flood, ventilation and lock-out before leaving.
FAQ
What does a haze day cost?
Chrome stoppage + nickel rework: the nickel gate before chrome pays for itself.
Which log predicts haze?
Hull cell completeness and brightener L per Amp-hour trend; both drift before parts do.
How do we settle a haze claim?
Bath records + storage-test samples. No records means paying without learning.