Electroless Nickel
RoHS Compliant - MIL-C-26074 & AMS-2404
AMS-C-26074, ASTM B-733, ASTM-B-656
CertificationsISO 9001:2000/
AS9100 Rev B
NADCAP Certified
RoHS Compliant
Electroless Nickel Plating For Longer Wear
& Corrosion Resistance
What Is Electroless Nickel?
As the process name implies, an Electroless Nickel deposit is not the result of a standard electroplating process, but rather the result of a chemical reaction that deposits discrete particles of Nickel and Phosphorous on a surface.
An Autocatalytic Chemical Reaction
The reaction is autocatalytic: once it starts, the presence of nickel acts as a catalyst to keep the reaction going. Deposit thicknesses can range from a few microns to 100 microns.
Typical Uses Of Electroless Nickel By Industry
- Electronics Industry
Most media storage disks in computers are made of Aluminum and plated with Electroless Nickel. Many other components such as on connectors also find electroless nickel to be a very useful finish. - Automotive Industry
As an undercoat on many decorative trim pieces that are made out of Aluminum (subsequently Cr plated). Also used for wear resistance on brake components and gears in response to the need for longer warranties. - Oil Industry & Gas Industry
Primarily used for corrosion resistance, although wearability is also a consideration. Valve components, pumps and pipe fittings are typically electroless nickel plated. - Chemical Processing Industry
Used for mixing blades, pumps, etc. - General Industry
Equipment components of all types.
Phosphorous Content Categories
Hi-Tech Plating divides Electroless Nickel deposits into three categories, based upon Phosphorous content.
- Low Phosphorous 1-3%
- Medium Phosphorous 6-8%
- High Phosphorous 10% and above
Unique Properties Of Electroless Nickel Deposits
- Because the deposit is the result of a chemical reaction, uniform deposits are obtained over all surfaces.
- The Phosphorous content makes the deposit somewhat self-lubricating.
- As a general statement, the lower the Phosphorous content, the higher the as-deposited hardness. However, the lower the Phosphorous content, the lower the corrosion resistance.
- All Electroless Nickel coatings can be hardened by heat treatment after deposition. Nickel Phosphide forms through a process known as precipitation hardening.
Our Specialization: Plating Electroless Nickel On Aluminum
Hi-Tech Plating specializes in plating Electroless Nickel on Aluminum. Medium Phosphorous deposits are utilized to impart wear and corrosion resistance to the Aluminum for the electronics, aerospace and medical industries. Hi-Tech can produce all categories of Electroless Nickel upon special request.
Electroless Nickel Specifications
Hi-Tech Plating specializes in the MIL-C-26074 electroless nickel plating process as well as AMS-2404, AMS-C-26074, ASTM B-733, and ASTM-B-656, ensuring the highest quality results.
RoHS Compliance
Hi-Tech Plating runs RoHS compliant cadmium and lead-free Electroless Nickel.
Contact Hi-Tech Plating Today
Hi-Tech Plating will work with you to ensure that the right type of plating is selected for your application. Put our expertise - and our world-class quality and service - to work for you today.
Electroless Nickel
- The first patent on Electroless Nickel plating was granted 1916. However, Brenner and Riddel are generally credited with publishing the first article on practical Electroless Nickel plating in 1946. Since then, all other developments have essentially been refinements of their initial process with the basic chemical reactions remaining the same.
- Nickel-Boron is another commercially available form of Electroless Nickel that has found limited use for special applications only.
- Electroless Nickel can be plated onto metallic powders.
- Electroless Nickel can be co-deposited with Teflon and other particles to produce unique coatings.
- In addition to Nickel: Copper, Silver, Gold, Palladium, Tin, Indium, Iron and Cobalt have all been chemically deposited, but only Copper is run commercially.
Call us today at 1-617-389-3400 for a speedy quotation on your electroless nickel plated project.
