electroless nickel
Electroless Nickel Plating
Electroless nickel plating is an autocatalytic process, so there is no electricity, or anode, involved. No matter how detailed, all surfaces will plate uniformly. As the solution comes into contact with the part, it envelopes the entire piece, penetrating even the deepest details.
Electroless Nickel (Flash .0002 - .0003)
Electroless nickel flash is a thin, uniform coating that gives you corrosion-free protection. Use it on parts - they will provide years of wipe clean service without the use of spray wax protection.
Build Up
We routinely uses electroless nickel plating to uniformly plate specific areas where customers need to correct an out of tolerance specification. These precision electroless nickel "build-ups" are applied in thicknesses of up to .003 and do not require any machining or rework after plating.
Electroless Nickel Plating Specifications
Hardness - HVN100 As plated 55 RC
Heat treated at:- 1hr, 750°F (400°C) 70 RC
Phosphorus Content: 4% to 7% (depends on age of bath and operating pH)
Hardness: As plated, 500 to 600 D.P.H. (48 to 50 Rc)
after heat treating to 400°C (750°F) for 60 minutes:
900 - 1000 D.P.H. (60 to 70 Rc)
Ductility: Will pass 180° bend test as specified by Mil-C-26074B
Colour: Bright deposit resembling polished stainless steel.
Electroless nickel plating is an autocatalytic process, so there is no electricity, or anode, involved. No matter how detailed, all surfaces will plate uniformly. As the solution comes into contact with the part, it envelopes the entire piece, penetrating even the deepest details.
Electroless Nickel (Flash .0002 - .0003)
Electroless nickel flash is a thin, uniform coating that gives you corrosion-free protection. Use it on parts - they will provide years of wipe clean service without the use of spray wax protection.
Build Up
We routinely uses electroless nickel plating to uniformly plate specific areas where customers need to correct an out of tolerance specification. These precision electroless nickel "build-ups" are applied in thicknesses of up to .003 and do not require any machining or rework after plating.
Electroless Nickel Plating Specifications
Hardness - HVN100 As plated 55 RC
Heat treated at:- 1hr, 750°F (400°C) 70 RC
Phosphorus Content: 4% to 7% (depends on age of bath and operating pH)
Hardness: As plated, 500 to 600 D.P.H. (48 to 50 Rc)
after heat treating to 400°C (750°F) for 60 minutes:
900 - 1000 D.P.H. (60 to 70 Rc)
Ductility: Will pass 180° bend test as specified by Mil-C-26074B
Colour: Bright deposit resembling polished stainless steel.
Hard Chrome plating
Hard Chrome Plating is an electrolytic process utilizing a chromic acid based electrolyte. The part is made the cathode and, with the passage of a DC current via lead anodes, chromium metal builds on the component surface.
A wide variety of parts can be coated; it requires only the proper fixturing, a large enough bath, sufficient lifting capacity, and adequate power sources. Hard Chrome Plating offers many attractive properties to the engineer.What are the Benefits of Hard Chrome?It is ultra Hard;
850-100Hv (65-70Rc), harder than most industrial abrasives and steel counter faces. Unusually, it combines this hardness with a degree of toughness, so the deposit can stand up to high stress contact.
It gives superb substrate adhesion;
Greater than 10,000 psi. Before plating, substrates are subjected to rigorous cleaning, so that the surface to be coated is completely free from contaminates. But the ultimate adhesion is achieved in the plating bath itself, with an initial reverse voltage etch which removes any residual surface contamination.
It can be applied to a wide variety of substrates;
Covering a wide range of engineering or high alloyed steels (including stainless steels and cast irons), lightweight aluminum alloys or titanium alloys, copper alloys, brasses and bronzes, as well as nickel-based alloys.
It provides superb abrasion resistance:
Even under high contact stress. It gives a very low wear rate (at least 100 times better than hardened steels or electroless nickel) with abrasive products like textiles, paper and food stuffs. With thick deposits, it gives excellent wear resistance under high stress contact against sand, coal, cement, limestone, glass fibers, etc.
With abrasion being the most common and destructive wear process found in industry, hard chrome has the potential to solve many problems in pumps, valves, bearings, etc. throughout a wide range of industries; including pharmaceutical, chemical, oil and gas, textiles, printing, food, mining, and countless others.
The deposition temperature is low;
And with de-embrittlement treatment has little effect on substrate properties. Provided that high strength steels are stress-relieved before plating and heat-treated again afterwards (usually for 3 to 12 hours at about 375*F), there will be few problems with hydrogen embrittlement.
It can be applied to a wide range of geometry’s;
With careful attention to anode design and fixturing, chrome plating can be applied evenly to flat surfaces, to fine bores, even with large aspect ratios, to cylindrical like shafts or rollers, and to holes and close tolerance areas.
It gives ultra high metal-to-metal sliding wear resistance;
Up to 100 times less wear than given by through-hardened, induction hardened, carburized or nitrided steels in dry sliding situations, and greatly superior to Electroless Nickel.
It has a bright, attractive finish;
It responds very well to grinding and polishing, providing ideal surfaces for dealing with delicate products (like textiles and paper), for giving low friction, and for high precision parts like lathe beds.
It produces very low friction;
Against polymers, carbons and graphite’s. This makes it ideal for textile applications or for seal faces, as well as for components like vane pumps. It is the perfect counterface for PM and other polymers which rely on establishing a transfer-film for their best performance.
The plating is stable and non-corrodible;
It’s suitable for most organic acids and gasses (not chlorine), excellent in hot oxidizing or reducing air, in commodities like beer, sugar, brine, coal gas, cyanides, fruit acids, molten glass, glue, milk, oils and fuels.
Hard Chrome Specifications used at Precision Plating:
QQ-C-320
AMS 2406
A wide variety of parts can be coated; it requires only the proper fixturing, a large enough bath, sufficient lifting capacity, and adequate power sources. Hard Chrome Plating offers many attractive properties to the engineer.What are the Benefits of Hard Chrome?It is ultra Hard;
850-100Hv (65-70Rc), harder than most industrial abrasives and steel counter faces. Unusually, it combines this hardness with a degree of toughness, so the deposit can stand up to high stress contact.
It gives superb substrate adhesion;
Greater than 10,000 psi. Before plating, substrates are subjected to rigorous cleaning, so that the surface to be coated is completely free from contaminates. But the ultimate adhesion is achieved in the plating bath itself, with an initial reverse voltage etch which removes any residual surface contamination.
It can be applied to a wide variety of substrates;
Covering a wide range of engineering or high alloyed steels (including stainless steels and cast irons), lightweight aluminum alloys or titanium alloys, copper alloys, brasses and bronzes, as well as nickel-based alloys.
It provides superb abrasion resistance:
Even under high contact stress. It gives a very low wear rate (at least 100 times better than hardened steels or electroless nickel) with abrasive products like textiles, paper and food stuffs. With thick deposits, it gives excellent wear resistance under high stress contact against sand, coal, cement, limestone, glass fibers, etc.
With abrasion being the most common and destructive wear process found in industry, hard chrome has the potential to solve many problems in pumps, valves, bearings, etc. throughout a wide range of industries; including pharmaceutical, chemical, oil and gas, textiles, printing, food, mining, and countless others.
The deposition temperature is low;
And with de-embrittlement treatment has little effect on substrate properties. Provided that high strength steels are stress-relieved before plating and heat-treated again afterwards (usually for 3 to 12 hours at about 375*F), there will be few problems with hydrogen embrittlement.
It can be applied to a wide range of geometry’s;
With careful attention to anode design and fixturing, chrome plating can be applied evenly to flat surfaces, to fine bores, even with large aspect ratios, to cylindrical like shafts or rollers, and to holes and close tolerance areas.
It gives ultra high metal-to-metal sliding wear resistance;
Up to 100 times less wear than given by through-hardened, induction hardened, carburized or nitrided steels in dry sliding situations, and greatly superior to Electroless Nickel.
It has a bright, attractive finish;
It responds very well to grinding and polishing, providing ideal surfaces for dealing with delicate products (like textiles and paper), for giving low friction, and for high precision parts like lathe beds.
It produces very low friction;
Against polymers, carbons and graphite’s. This makes it ideal for textile applications or for seal faces, as well as for components like vane pumps. It is the perfect counterface for PM and other polymers which rely on establishing a transfer-film for their best performance.
The plating is stable and non-corrodible;
It’s suitable for most organic acids and gasses (not chlorine), excellent in hot oxidizing or reducing air, in commodities like beer, sugar, brine, coal gas, cyanides, fruit acids, molten glass, glue, milk, oils and fuels.
Hard Chrome Specifications used at Precision Plating:
QQ-C-320
AMS 2406
black oxide
Black oxide is the conversion coating formed by a chemical reaction with the iron in
metal to form an integral protective surface…. contrasted to an applied coating which
bonds to the metal but does not react chemically. A black oxide conversion coating is
applied to ferrous alloys when a blend of caustic, oxidizers and additives react with
the iron to form magnetite (Fe3O4), the black oxide of iron. Black oxide coatings are
offered under a variety of trade names including Black Magic, Black Pentrate®,
Black Passivation, Gun Bluing and others. Black oxide will not affect the part
dimension, hardness, temper or surface properties….. a polished surface retains its
gloss and a dull surface finish will retain its matte finish. Black oxide will not chip,
peel, flake or rub off. Hot black oxide is a conventional hot process which
produces a true black oxide iron magnetite. All the benefits of black oxide are
available from the “hot” oxidizing process.
A black oxide coating can be formed in either a hot or cold solution. The “cold” black
oxide process, applied at room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures, are
not true oxides, but soft deposits that offer less corrosion and abrasion resistance
than the “hot” oxide process. The cold black oxides oftentimes display color
variations on the same part or part-to-part. The “cold” process does not meet
automotive or military specifications for black oxide coatings. Precision Plating Ltd. only
employs the “hot” black oxide process.
metal to form an integral protective surface…. contrasted to an applied coating which
bonds to the metal but does not react chemically. A black oxide conversion coating is
applied to ferrous alloys when a blend of caustic, oxidizers and additives react with
the iron to form magnetite (Fe3O4), the black oxide of iron. Black oxide coatings are
offered under a variety of trade names including Black Magic, Black Pentrate®,
Black Passivation, Gun Bluing and others. Black oxide will not affect the part
dimension, hardness, temper or surface properties….. a polished surface retains its
gloss and a dull surface finish will retain its matte finish. Black oxide will not chip,
peel, flake or rub off. Hot black oxide is a conventional hot process which
produces a true black oxide iron magnetite. All the benefits of black oxide are
available from the “hot” oxidizing process.
A black oxide coating can be formed in either a hot or cold solution. The “cold” black
oxide process, applied at room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures, are
not true oxides, but soft deposits that offer less corrosion and abrasion resistance
than the “hot” oxide process. The cold black oxides oftentimes display color
variations on the same part or part-to-part. The “cold” process does not meet
automotive or military specifications for black oxide coatings. Precision Plating Ltd. only
employs the “hot” black oxide process.
Sulfamate nickel
Nickel Sulphamate based plating solutions are employed wherever high speed, low stress, heavy nickel plating is required. The solutions are used for reclamation as well as for the production of moulds for plastics and rubber, filters, meshes and screens for the chemical, food, electronic and aircraft industry. In the printing industry nickel plating is employed for the facing of stereotypes and copper half tone plates in order to provide a hard wear-resistant surface and thus permit a very considerable increase in the number of impressions which can be obtained. Electro-types – duplicates of printing plates – are now generally electroformed in nickel rather than copper.