Electroless nickel plating
In the last few decades electroless nickel plating has been established as an important supplementary technology for effective anti-corrosion-, wear resistant and homogenous coatings to be deposited on insulator materials.
A reducing agent in combination with a soluble nickel salt in an aqueous solution essentially delivers nickel phosphorus alloys. In comparison with electro-plated nickel coatings it is possible to deposit a high definition coating with homogenous growth rates even in workpieces with complicated geometries. Within the range of possible layer thicknesses between 5 µm to 80 µm the deviation yields only ± 2 - 3 µm.
Depending on the chosen parameters you can differentiate coatings with a high-
(10 - 14%), medium- (9 - 12%) and low (3 - 7%) phosphorus content.
Further important characteristics of electroless nickel coatings:
|
- Hardness: |
Approx.: 550 HV 0,1 |
|
- Hardness (heat treatment): |
up to 1000 HV 0,1 |
|
- Magnetic properties: |
non-magnetic |
|
- Solderability: |
up to 10 µm good, from 10 µm to x medium |
|
- Visual appearance, brightness: |
depending on the initial surface: dull - bright |
|
- Possible substrate materials: |
Aluminium- and copper alloys, steel, ceramics and glas |
1) Electroless nickel plated glastube
3) Electroless nickel plated workpieces (Aluminium- and Copper-alloys)
2) Electroless nickel plated ceramic disks
Annotation:
The applied procedure "Chemisch Nickel 612" to produce electroless NiP platings fulfills the following EU- directives:
-
Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of life vehicles
-
2002/525/EG: Council decision of 27. september 2002 amending Annex II of Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on end-of-life vehicles
-
2005/673/EC: Council Decision of 20 September 2005 amending Annex II of Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on end-of-life vehicles
-
Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
-
Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
-
Commission Decision of 21 October 2005 amending for the purposes of adapting to technical progress the Annex to Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment