Everything You Want To Know Electroless Nickel Plating

Just like the name implies, electroless nickel plating refers to the process of placing an electroless nickel deposit on a substance but not through the use of the regular electroplating processes as we know it. In this case, there are specific chemical reactions that are used to ensure that nickel and phosphorus are deposited on the required surface. The type of chemical reaction that is used during electroless nickel plating in basically an autocatalytic chemical reaction; once the reaction begins, the presence of nickel becomes the catalyst that keeps the reaction in progress. The thickness of the deposit can range anywhere from a few microns to 100 microns.  

There are different areas where electroless nickel plating is used and some of them are:   

Electronics industry: Most of the common types of electronic media storage disks that you find in items such as computers are normally made from aluminum as the base metal but which is plated with electroless nickel. There are several other components such as those that are found on connectors where the process of electroless nickel plating is used.   

Automotive industry: You will find many decorative trim pieces that are made from aluminum where electroless nickel is used as an undercoat; it is also sued for wear and tear resistance of different brake and gear components especially where customers usually insist on longer warranties.  

Oil and gas industries: Black electroless nickel plating is primarily used to aid in corrosion resistance even though the issue of wearability is also an important consideration. Some of the major components where electroless nickel is typically used include different valve components, pipe fittings and pumps.   
Chemical processing industry: IN the chemical processing industry it is used for mixing pumps, blades etc.  

How component hardness is achieved: The phosphorous component is what makes the deposit somewhat of a self-lubricating material; it is an open secret that the lower the phosphorus content, the higher the general hardness is going to become. Electroless nickel plating coatings are usually hardened using heat treatment after the deposition to form nickel phosphides through a process that is known as precipitation hardening.