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Electroless/chemical nickel plating, also called autocatalytic deposition, flourished over the years and had a rapid and exciting growth since its development in the 50’s. In the ’70s and 80’s, electroless nickel became the fastest growing segment of the metal finishing industry.

The coating is deposited by an autocatalytic chemical reduction of nickel ions, without the use of an electric current. As applied, the coating has a microcrystallic, almost amorphous structure, and apart from nickel, contains phosphorous up to 14%. We are applying a Ni-P coating with 10-13% P. These engineering high-phosphorous coatings show the following properties:

Excellent corrosion resistance
Good lubricity, wear and abrasion resistance

The coating’s hardness is 530-580HV as deposited, with the ability to raise up to 980HV after proper subsequent heat treatment. A great advantage of the electroless plating process, compared to the traditional electrolytic, is overall uniformity of the deposit with no edge build-up, regardless of the shape of the part or surface irregularities.

Chemical nickel coatings can be applied on the surface of most metals and alloys like low or high carbon, stainless, alloy and tool steel, cast iron, brass, aluminum alloys, etc. Typical application examples are:

Plastic extrusion dies and injection molds, abrading plates, spray nozzles, chassis, pins, rods, hydraulic cylinders, blades, electronic card boxes, shafts, etc.