At ADV Plating, we believe in offering our customers a wide range of plating options for their business and industrial needs. Electroless nickel plating is just one of many industry standards because of the versatility and durability of this particular finish. When looking at plating options, it is vital that companies talk to a team with years of experience in providing surface finishing solutions. Let’s look at electroless nickel plating and specifically what substrates it can be compatible with.
What is nickel?
The first step to deciding if electroless nickel plating fits your company’s needs is learning about the finish itself. Nickel is best described as a metal that is silvery-white and hard. It has the ability to resist corrosion coming from an alkaline or acidic environment, which makes it a popular choice for plating applications.
What is electroless nickel plating?
Electroless nickel plating is a specialized plating process where nickel is deposited onto a substrate without the use of electricity. This specific process involves submerging the object into an electroless nickel solution and allowing it to react with the surface at a specific temperature.
What are some of the benefits of electroless nickel plating over other metal materials and techniques?
There are many advantages to using electroless nickel plating over other techniques. It provides:
A uniform coating. With electroless nickel plating, complex and intricate geometries and contours can be coated with uniform thickness without the need for electrical contact.
Effective corrosion resistance. Nickel is a metal that can protect against problems such as wear and tear and natural corrosion.
Enhance lubricity. When combined with other types of coatings, such as PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), electroless nickel can significantly improve lubricity of the surfaces that it covers.
Because of the versatility and characteristics of electroless nickel plating, it is the perfect choice for plating parts, machinery, devices, and components.
What is electroless nickel plating compatible with?
Our team at ADV Plating often recommends electroless nickel plating to many of our clients for a variety of reasons. This includes its compatibility with other materials, including metals, plastics, and ceramics. Let’s look closely at the many materials that can be plated using nickel for the best functionality and long-term protection from wear and tear.
Metal
Several metals can be coated safely and effectively using electroless nickel plating, including:
Steel and Cast Iron
Combining electroless nickel with steel components and parts provides improved surface hardness and corrosion assistance.
Aluminum
Aluminum parts are protected from wear and tear and ensures even better adhesion for any subsequent coatings after nickel.
Copper and Brass
Copper and brass components can benefit from the electroless nickel plating’s ability to prevent issues such as oxidation (i.e. brass tarnish) while simultaneously ensuring a smooth finish to the surface.
Stainless Steel
Electroless nickel can further enhance the corrosion protection of stainless steel while also increasing the electrical conductivity and appearance.
Plastics
Components and parts fabricated from plastic can be successfully coated with electroless nickel plating. Common plastic substrates often benefitting from this coating include:
Polycarbonate
After surface activation, polycarbonate can be successfully plated with this technique, making it a great solution for electronic components.
Nylon
Nylon parts can have improved durability after being plated with electroless nickel plating, ensuring longevity of parts and products.
Ceramics
While ceramic can be durable on its own, depending on its use, it can be made even stronger and increase longevity with electroless nickel plating options. Proper adhesion can occur with this specialized process while protecting the component’s high strength and thermal stability.
Who can I reach out to for more information regarding electroless nickel plating and material compatibility?
With electroless nickel plating, many of our customers find that they can successfully coat, protect, and strengthen certain parts and components used in their field. If you are considering options for plating certain products using this technique, we invite you to contact our team at ADV Plating. We can walk you through the many applications of this particular coating option and educate you on whether or not it might be right for your company’s needs. Connect with us today and discuss the many advantages of electroless nickel plating with our experienced team!
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