Annie,

Since you said oxidized, I'm afraid the condition you describr is due
to high lead content in the gold bath.  Almost all automatic Ni/Au
machines drag in a  small amount of lead into the gold bath,
regardless of how well everything is run.  Because of this the
gold bath itself must eventually be either treated for lead or
replaced.  I'm realy not sure if there is a functional impact.
Robert E. Welch
Process Specialist
Email: [log in to unmask]
Modem: 804-239-9120
Fax:   804-237-3048

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