Surface finishes

Electroless nickel plating services

The metal layer deposited by the electroless nickel process results in a smooth whitish semi-bright uniform coating. It is a wear, abrasion and corrosion resistant surface finish that adds hardness to the surface.

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Introduction

Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating is a chemical process that deposits an even layer of nickel-phosphorus alloy on the surface of a solid substrate, like metal or plastic. The process involves dipping the substrate in a water solution containing nickel salt and a phosphorus-containing reducing agent, usually a hypophosphite salt.
It is the most common version of electroless nickel plating (EN plating) and is often referred just by that name. A similar process uses a borohydride reducing agent, yielding a nickel-boron coating instead.
Coating of Nickel on the surface provides a shiny appearance, excellent hardness, abrasive, wear, and corrosion-resistance to the substrate material. The electro-less nickel plating substrate must be machined with roughness not more than Ra 1.6µm. This approach will reduce the Machining marks but might still be visible. This method allows plating thicknesses of up to 5 microns while maintaining an acceptable tolerance for the parts.

key properties

Surface preparation	Tolerances	Cosmetic availability	Thickness	Visual appearance
Smooth machined (Ra 1.6μm / Ra 63μin)	Apply after Electroless nickel plating	No	3μm to 40μm	Electroless nickel plated parts will have a smooth, semi-bright appearance.

Difference between nickel electroless plating & nickel electroplating

Difference	Electroless Nickel plating (ENP)	Electroplating Nickel (EP)
Different principle	ENP is the simpler plating solution, as no electric charge or catalyst is needed. It involves a natural chemical reaction, which occurs evenly on all exposed areas of the base material.	EP process involves an electric current: two electrodes are dipped into a solution and connected to an electric circuit. As electricity flows through the circuit, metal atoms are deposited, resulting in a thin coating.
Different plating speed	EP is much fater than NEP
Different environmental protection	ENP is more environmentally friendly than EP
Different applications	We could find ENP all around us, because this method applies a uniform coating to ven the most complex shapes	Its applications is not widely used,such as the aerospace or defense will not use EP.

About the Process

Electroless nickel plating (ENP of NiP) is a reaction that deposits a nickel-phosphorus alloy onto the surface of a metal. It uses a purely chemical reaction to induce plating and does not leverage electricity. Though this process takes much longer than electroplating, advantages are a more uniform thickness over even the most complex surfaces (due to not having to rely on varying electric fields), as well as superior wear and corrosion resistance. The standard specification for ENP in North America is MIL-C-26074E, with various grades specifying thicknesses from 0.0003-0.002”.

Design considerations for electroless nickel plating

Masking:
Electroless nickel plating does not have a significant dimensional impact, therefore masking parts is not necessary.Our standard offering for ENP adds thickness between 0.0003”-0.0005”, although we can achieve 0.00005” up to 0.002″ if specified in a drawing.

The Anpllocnc electroless nickel plating process

Electroless nickel plating is a wear, abrasion and corrosion resistant finish that is compatible with aluminum, stainless steel and mild steel.

Here’s how to apply electroless nickel plating:

Parts are first washed and degreased to remove any contaminants, cleaning away any grease or oil
After cleaning is completed, the substrate is activated with another chemical, an acid, to remove oxides and activate the surface.
Parts are then dipped in the plating chemical solution, depositing the nickel-phosphorus alloy on the parts until desired thickness is reached

What are the advantages of Electroless Nickel Plating?

Electroless nickel plating has several advantages over other plating methods:

Uniform and Precise Plating: Electroless nickel plating can deposit an even and precise thickness of nickel on surfaces of varying geometries, including internal surfaces of parts, without the need for complex equipment or electricity. This makes it an ideal method for plating complex and irregular shapes.
Corrosion Resistance: Electroless nickel plating provides excellent corrosion resistance, making it an ideal choice for parts used in harsh environments, such as the oil and gas, aerospace, and marine industries. It can also protect against chemical and environmental damage.
Wear Resistance: Electroless nickel plating can improve the wear resistance of parts, making them last longer and reducing the need for costly replacements. It can also provide a low coefficient of friction, making it useful for applications where parts are subject to sliding or rotating.
Hardness and Strength: Electroless nickel plating can increase the hardness and strength of parts, making them more durable and resistant to wear and tear.
Solderability and Bonding: Electroless nickel plating provides a uniform, conductive surface that is easy to solder or bond to, making it useful in electronics and other applications where good electrical conductivity is required.

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