Electroless Nickel (ENP)

Electroless Nickel Plating

Electroless nickel plating is an auto-catalytic process used to deposit a coating of nickel on a part. Unlike electroplating, it is not necessary to pass an electric current through the solution to form a deposit. Electroless nickel is very hard and is used to prevent corrosion and wear. The plating process provides a uniform coating over all part surfaces including complex shapes and recesses such as the ID of a part. This is one large benefit of electroless plating over electroplating.

Electroless nickel has varying levels of brightness depending on the chemistry and the substrate being plated, and ranges from a bright finish to semi-bright and matte. It is used in most every industry from oil and gas to food.

Types of Electroless Nickel Plating

• Low Phosphorous 2-5% offers improved hardness and wear characteristics, higher temperature resistance, and increased corrosion resistance in alkaline environments
• Medium Phosphorus 5-9% is the most common type of Electroless Nickel applied. It offers good hardness and wear characteristics along with moderate corrosion resistance
• High Phosphorus 10-14% provides high corrosion resistance and is non-magnetic

Electroless Nickel Services We Provide

• Low, Medium and High Phosphorous Electroless Nickel Plating
• Rack and Barrel Processing

Rack Processing involves attaching parts to metal racks with hooks, wires or spring fingers, allowing parts to remain stationary during immersion into the plating solution. This method is ideal for delicate parts not able to withstand the tumbling produced by barrel plating. Rack processing can also work well for large or complex components, plating intricate details with precision. Rack processing is preferred when an exceptional finish is crucial, such as in the medical, electronics and automotive industries.

Barrel Processing provides a smooth, uniform coating that increases corrosion prevention. Parts are immersed and rotated slowly in a plating solution. Barrel processing is an economical solution for plating a high quantity of small, durable parts such as nuts, bolts and fasteners, and also performs well for plating parts of various shapes and sizes.

Electroless Nickel Benefits

• Effective Corrosion Prevention
• Wear Resistance
• Exceptional Lubricity
• Cost Effective
• Superior Throwing Characteristics

Electroless Nickel Plating Applications

• Aerospace
• Electronics
• Automotive
• Oil and Gas
• Food Industry
• Construction
• Agriculture