Electroplated Nickel For Maximum Resistance To Atmospheric Corrosion

What Is Nickel Plating?

Nickel plating is the process of electrolytically depositing a layer of nickel. Parts processed with a bright nickel plating layer maintain their surface appearance and brightness over time.

Why Use Nickel Plating?

  • Corrosion Resistance

    Nickel is extremely resistant to atmospheric corrosion, making it an excellent choice as a final layer.
  • Magnetic Properties

    Nickel is also a magnetic material, making it an attractive option when magnetic properties are required.
  • Longer Service Life

    Nickel can provide improved wear resistance to soft metals such as copper, resulting in longer service life.
  • Superior Barrier Layer

    Nickel also provides a superior barrier layer between metals that can experience self diffusion into each other such as copper and tin.

Nickel As A Base Plating Layer

Nickel plating is commonly used as a base plating layer as it provides excellent adhesion between layers and can have a leveling effect on pits or other defects in the base material

High Purity Nickel For Anodes And Cathodes

High purity nickel is used in electronic and aerospace applications, chemical and food processing equipment, for anodes and cathodes, caustics evaporators and heat shields.

Nickel Electroplated Onto Base Metals

Nickel is also electroplated onto base metals when making glass-to-metal seals and also for metal to ceramic seals.

About Nickel Plating Baths

Common nickel plating baths are sulfate, chloride, fluoroborate and sulfamate based. The choice depending upon the desired properties of the deposit. Note: In general, electroplated nickel's corrosion resistance is strictly a function of thickness.

Types Of Plated Nickel Finishes

Depending upon the additives to the nickel plating bath, all chemistries can provide finishes that range from matte through semi-bright to bright in luster. Typically, the brighter the finish, the more stressed the deposit is and the less that can be done as a secondary operation to the deposit.

About Sulfamate Nickel Electroplating

The very low stresses inherent in a Sulfamate Nickel deposit make it ideal for barrier coats. Hi-Tech Plating offers Bright Nickel as well as Sulfamate Nickel. Sulfamate has much better ductility.

When Not To Use Nickel For Plating

Nickel has only fair electrical conductivity (25% that of copper) and heat conductivity. Nickel resists corrosion and most acids, but is attacked by oxidizing acids such as nitric acid.

Electroplated Nickel Specifications

Hi-Tech Plating offers both Bright Nickel and Sulfamate Nickel per specifications QQ-N-290, MIL-P-27418 and AMS-2424. 

Put Our Expertise To Work For You

Contact Hi-Tech Plating today and put our expertise to work for you today.