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⚙️ What is Electroless Nickel Plating?

  • It is a chemical (auto-catalytic) plating process that deposits a layer of nickel-phosphorus or nickel-boron alloy on a substrate.

  • Unlike electroplating, no external electricity is used — the deposition happens through a controlled chemical reaction in a solution.

  • The coating is uniform in thickness, even on complex shapes, blind holes, or internal surfaces where electroplating is difficult.

🔑 Key Properties

  1. Uniform Coating

    • Coats evenly on all surfaces, edges, and cavities.

    • Ideal for parts with intricate geometries.

  2. Hardness & Wear Resistance

    • As-deposited hardness: ~500–600 HV

    • Can be heat-treated to increase hardness up to 1000 HV (comparable to hard chrome).

  3. Corrosion Resistance

    • Excellent resistance, especially with high-phosphorus ENP (>10% P).

    • Performs better than chrome in corrosive environments like seawater.

  4. Low Friction & Lubricity

    • Smooth surface reduces friction and galling.

  5. Solderability & Conductivity

    • Useful in electronics (PCBs, connectors).

🧪 Types of Electroless Nickel

  1. Low Phosphorus (2–5% P)

    • High hardness, wear resistance, magnetic.

  2. Medium Phosphorus (6–9% P)

    • Balanced hardness + corrosion resistance (most common).

  3. High Phosphorus (10–13% P)

    • Best corrosion resistance, non-magnetic, ideal for marine and chemical environments.

✅ Advantages

  • Uniform thickness (no “dog-boning” like electroplating).

  • Excellent corrosion protection.

  • Can coat non-conductive materials (plastics, ceramics) after proper pre-treatment.

  • Can be made harder than chrome after heat treatment.

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