Do you have a product with a complex shape that is not suitable for a standard electroplating process? Or a product that requires an extremely accurate coating thickness of within± 2 microns, depending on the geometry? Then electroless nickel plating is the only appropriate method of surface treatment. We nickel-plate both steel and cast iron (depending on the porosity), as well as aluminium.
We apply electroless nickel plating to make your aluminium product or semi-finished product corrosion resistant. This is one of our specialist areas. It requires knowledge and expertise to achieve good adhesion. You could consider having the product silver electroplated afterwards, but that is not necessary. On the contrary, any product that we silver electroplate, we first apply electroless nickel plate. We also have a wealth of expertise in electroless nickel plating steel and cast iron (depending on the porosity). Thanks to our high capacities, we can rapidly deliver results.
Electroless nickel plating is also known as chemical plating or autocatalytic plating. The method differs from nickel electroplating in several ways. Electroless nickel plating provides a harder, more wear resistant and better corrosion resistant surface. Moreover, it is easier to solder and is chemically resistant. Another advantage is that electroless nickel plating ensures a very even coating over the entire product. That means no extra build-up on edges. The coating is normally pore-free from 25 microns. We can apply a nickel coating of up to approximately 50 microns.
By heat-treating the coatings, we can achieve a high degree of hardness (up to 1000 HV), but as applied, they are almost twice as hard as ordinary nickel coatings. Electroless nickel coatings are in fact nickel-phosphorous alloy coatings. Depending on the type of nickel bath, we incorporate a certain percentage of phosphor. A high phosphor content makes the nickel coatings more chemically resistant. Such a nickel coating is, however, not magnetic and is less easy to solder.
Galvano Hengelo has a wealth of experience in tin electroplating and has built up a lot of expertise since starting out in 1996. Customers can also benefit from our high capacities. We can provide a combination of barrel work and rack work. This enables us to apply short delivery times.
| Properties of electroless nickel | ||
| Symbol | NiP | |
|---|---|---|
| Content Ni | 87 - 92,5 | % |
| Content P (mid-phos NiP-coatings,standard used on aluminium) | 6 - 9 | % |
| Content P (high-phos NiP-coatings,standard used on steel) | > 10 | % |
| Density (mid-Phos / high-Phos) | 8,1 / 7,8 | ± 0,2 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 850 - 880 | °C |
| Electrical resistance | 50 - 100 | µΩ/cm |
| Magnetism mid-Phos / high-Phos | Slight / Not | |
| Solderability mid-Phos / high-Phos | Good / Poor | |
| Hardness as plated | 500 - 600 | HV |
| Hardness after thermal treatment (standard 16 hours 280 °C) | 900 - 1000 | HV |
Base materials for electroless nickel plating: steel and aluminium.
| Maximum product dimensions: | |
|---|---|
| LxWxH = 1300 x 300 x 900 mm |
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