For those looking for a technologically-advanced, yet long-tested surface protection process at an affordable price, electroless nickel plating services may be the perfect solution.

Reasons to Consider Electroless Nickel Plating Services

Nickel plating is vital for many commercial applications and industries, particularly aerospace and automotive. It will protect metal parts from corrosion and increase their longevity. You may be wondering why you should consider electroless nickel plating services over other methods of nickel plating.

There are many reasons to choose this method: it is a cheaper option than hard chrome, it has outstanding resistance to wear and tear, the process is environmentally friendly, there are no toxic gases released during the process, clear coatings can be applied after the nickel coating has been applied, so that color options are available. These benefits make electroless nickel plating an advantageous choice for many applications.

What is electroless nickel plating?

Electroless nickel plating is a surface treatment that layers a uniform coating of nickel onto metal with no electric current applied. Reducing agents like sodium hypophosphite are introduced to the bath or substrate which promotes the plating process. They convert the ions into an even deposition of metal without any corrosion or wear on either side. The result is excellent durability, lubricity, solderability, and protection against corrosion.

Specific application benefits of electroless nickel plating

Electroless Nickel Plating offers excellent corrosion resistance to common corrodents such as saltwater, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen sulfide. High phosphorus deposits of ENP (10-14% phos) are also amorphous, which means that there are no grain or phase boundaries to create initiation sites for corrosion. The uniformity of ENP versus electrolytic deposits is also advantageous, creating a uniformly thick coating across the whole substrate even in slots holes and inside walls of tubing without heat treatment providing good hardness and wear.

Overall advantages of electroless nickel plating

The most commonly discussed advantages of the properties of electroless nickel plating include:

1. Excellent corrosion resistance
2. Excellent wear and abrasion resistance
3. High hardness
4. Uniform thickness level
5. EMI shielding capabilities, when applied to advanced polymers
6. Cost-effective, nickel materials are typically less expensive than gold and silver

These properties make it excellent for use in applications that require durability, good lubricity, EMI Shielding, and electrical conductivity. Its ductility is essential to achieve even coating thickness at corners and edges without altering the shape of the component. Electroless nickel can be applied on both metallic substrates with prerequisites met beforehand (elements must have been suitably cleaned before application), but nonmetallic substrates like Ultem and PEEK can be plated, too. The higher toughness means this type of surface treatment will last longer than other types given the same harsh conditions.