A beginner’s guide to electroless nickel plating

Electroless nickel plating is a process used in many industry sectors to coat metals and plastics with nickel composites, enhancing their performance in the areas of durability, longevity and appearance.

What is electroless nickel plating?

Electroless nickel plating is a process that uses chemical reactions to deposit nickel coatings onto the products needing protection or preparation for further stages in their manufacturing process. It is a unique approach to metal finishing that preserves the integrity of the treated material while improving its functionality and performance.

What is the purpose of electroless nickel plating?

Electroless nickel plating is used to strengthen other materials, to increase their resistance to corrosion, heat and wear, to provide lasting lubrication and to enhance their visual appearance. This process delivers a range of benefits but ultimately its purpose is to make manufactured products operate effectively for longer when exposed to the environmental conditions specified by the manufacturer

How is electroless nickel plating performed?

There are 4 main steps to electroless nickel plating, all of which should be carried out by appropriately trained personnel such as those from poeton.co.uk/standard-treatments/electroless-nickel-plating/.

Step 1 – Preparation: The material requiring treatment must be thoroughly cleaned and degreased and any manufacturing defects addressed before electroless nickel plating can begin.

Step 2 – Surface activation: The surface to be treated will be activated using acid to remove oxides which could otherwise interfere with the treatment process.

Step 3 – Electroless nickel plating: The material will be immersed in a plating solution during which time nickel composites will be evenly distributed across all of the material’s surfaces by means of an auto-catalytic reaction.

Step 4 – Inspection: The treated part will be inspected to ensure that the plating process has concluded satisfactorily, rinsed to remove any remaining chemicals and heat treated if further protective qualities need to be imparted.

In conclusion, electroless nickel plating is a safe and effective means of protecting and preserving manufactured products, extending their lifespans and increasing customer satisfaction. Due to the risks associated with chemical exposure, the process should only be carried out by trained experts.

Niru Taylor

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