Electroless nickel

Electroless Nickel Plating: Uniform, Wear-Resistant, and Corrosion-Resistant Nickel Layers.

When a nickel layer needs to be the exact same thickness throughout, electrolytic nickel plating isn't always suitable. A consistent layer buildup is crucial, especially for products with tight fits, cavities, interiors, or complex shapes. Electroless nickel plating—also known as autocatalytic or electroless nickel plating—offers the perfect solution. This process ensures a completely uniform layer thickness, both internally and externally, regardless of the product's geometry. This makes the process ideal for precision parts where tolerances must remain constant for moving parts, machine components, and components exposed to friction or abrasion.

Nickel-phosphorus layer (7–13% P) for optimal protection. By precisely controlling these phosphorus levels, we can tailor the material properties precisely to the product's technical requirements.

- Medium phosphorus (7–10% P): a strong all-around layer with a good balance between corrosion resistance and wear resistance.
- High-phosphorus (10–13% P): Recommended for environments requiring the highest corrosion resistance, such as exposure to acids, chlorides, and aggressive media.

Wear-resistant, dimensionally stable, and hardenable.
For applications with high wear, we can perform a heat treatment after nickel plating. This increases the hardness of the nickel layer to approximately 1,000 HV, comparable to hard chrome.

Suitable for food contact.
The closed, smooth, and chemically stable structure of the nickel-phosphorus layer makes the process suitable for products that may come into contact with food without restriction. Therefore, electroless nickel plating is frequently used in the food, pharmaceutical, and high-tech industries.

Flexible layer thicknesses.
We can apply layer thicknesses from 5 to approximately 80 μm, depending on the desired function and protection.