The Electroless Nickel Plating is a plating solution designed to improve the hardness and enhance the corrosion resistance of certain metal surfaces. This variety of nickel plating is used along with one of the three following materials – phosphorus, boron or Teflon. Since this type of plating solution could handle large capacity plating, it is sometimes called the Large Nickel Plating.
Phosphorus
As mentioned, the Electroless Nickel Plating is used along with some materials, and one of this is the phosphorus. The use of phosphorus is the most versatile and the most common of all the Large Nickel Plating solutions. Varying the content of the phosphorus used would trigger some changes on the attributes of the plating solution. Adding a higher level of phosphorus on the plating solution can result to non magnetic plating which is extremely corrosion resistant, most especially when exposed to acids. On the other hand, mixing a lower level of phosphorus can result to a much harder plating and is slightly less corrosion resistant. It is because of this flexibility that the Electroless Nickel Plating with Phosphorus is considered the most common of all plating solutions.
Boron
Another material used for plating is Boron. This type of material is known for its very high melting point and it is highly wear resistant as well. The Electroless Nickel Plating with boron is not as corrosion resistant as compared to the plating with the use of Phosphorus.
Teflon
The Electroless Nickel Plating with Teflon is a special type of non stick plating. The Teflon is usually applied on micro beads within the nickel plating. These micro beads help to make the plating to become friction resistant. This variety of plating has a good wear resistant, although it does not have any advanced corrosion protection capabilities.
The Electroless Nickel Plating is common for battle corrosion. It is chosen over other types of metal finishes, such as powder coating, zinc plating and galvanizing. The reason is simply because it is extremely corrosion resistant. Another unique feature of this type of Large Nickel Plating is its deposit uniformity. Since this process will not require any electric current, the particles will be able to cling well into the surface in a very even manner. Furthermore, the Electroless Nickel Plating does not gravitate towards magnetic poles.
Various industries these days would need the Electroless Nickel Plating for their day to day business operations. Among the industries that commonly use this kind of plating solution are aerospace, automotive industry, chemical production industries, electronic industries, moulds and dies manufacturing, and many more. The main use of the Electroless Nickel Plating in each of the aforementioned industries is to serve as a natural corrosion protection. Indeed, this kind of plating solution is a smart way to layer some conducive materials using a metal that is not only known for having great decorative finish, but is also capable of providing other meaningful attributes to the entire functionality of a product. This plating solution is also known for being hardwearing and could withstand daily wear and tear.
Electroless Nickel Plating 