Electroless nickel plating, or ENP, is a process that involves depositing chemicals onto the surface of a material without an electrical current. The material is an alloy made from nickel and either boron or phosphorus, and the finishing method chosen is designed to achieve various goals, such as functional or aesthetic. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of electroless nickel plating.
The pros of electroless nickel plating
Firstly, electroless nickel plating is widely available from providers such as https://www.poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/plating/electroless-nickel-plating. Customers choose this process because it gives an incredibly uniform thickness of the chosen coating. The deposition uses a chemical layer that can build very evenly and reliably on recesses, complex shapes, internal surfaces, or threads, which are all areas where traditional methods of electroplating yield mixed results.
Electroless nickel plating is also highly resistant to corrosion, making it great in industries such as oil and gas, marine industries, and chemical processing. At the same time, the coating is hard and resistant to wear, and this can be amplified by additional heat treatments. Treated parts are ideal for applications with heavy repetitive mechanical stress, abrasion, or friction. The finished product also adheres well to other substrates.
The cons of electroless nickel plating
Of course, there are also drawbacks. This process is expensive due to its complexity, and the plating baths are operationally complex and require high skill and experience. The baths can also be unstable, and some coatings can be susceptible to stress or porosity, making the overall process more sensitive and challenging.