Nickel plating involves coating a component with a layer of nickel to provide a strong, resistant and durable finish.
When it comes to nickel plating, electroless nickel plating provides the best finish in terms of uniformity, even when it comes to small or intricate components and parts.
Electroless nickel plating relies on precise working conditions.
Tips
All parts should be chemically pre-treated in order to remove surface contaminants
Any impurities such as metal irons, particles or foreign matter should be removed from the EN bath before the process begins.
The EN bath should be housed in a tank made from either stainless steel or polypropylene.
Substrate roughness can be prevented by ensuring that continuous filtration takes place, which helps to remove insoluble materials from the plating bath.
Temperature is crucial for the nickel plating process and should be monitored throughout. Low temperatures could prevent the plating being successful, whilst high temperatures could cause the substrate to blister.
Effective plating can only take place when the balance of chemicals in maintained meticulously, so frequent solution testing is paramount.
On completion of the process, a post-treatment chromate should be administered in order to minimise the impact of staining or hydrogen embrittlement. This helps to remove excess hydrogen.
Electroless Nickel Plating Specialists
Nickel plating involves a catalytic chemical reaction performed in exact conditions that needs to be expertly delivered by a team of specialists.
Specialists in electroless nickel coating solutions such as www.poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/plating/electroless-nickel-plating offer superior quality industry-standard coating services on a variety of substrates.
The processes and systems afforded by a surface treatment specialist ensure a high-quality finish as well as the ability to turn orders around in a fast and efficient manner. The many industries that benefit from these specialist services include aerospace, military and defence and the automotive sector.
