Electroless Nickel Plating is a method used to add an extra layering to another product to give it a harder more durable exterior. It is resistant to rusting and as a result is used in car batteries and other electrical circuits. It is also widely used in building machinery because it is corrosion resistant, extremely malleable (very thin), and ductile; in short, it’s perfect for work pieces which need to be very hard-wearing and strong. But electroplating generally uses a combination of several different processes to achieve the results desired. These are done by competent companies’ like Poeton.
When electroless nickel plating a solid object, such as steel or aluminum, the metal object is exposed to an electric current which heats the object up and causes a deposit formation called an alloy, which is similar to porcelain. After the deposit cools, it is coated with another layer of another metal to create a finished product. One problem with this type of coating is that a very small amount of the deposited alloy will be left behind, causing a visible layer of metal beneath the plating layer. Another issue is that the amount of alloy left behind can significantly affect the thickness of the finish coating.
There are two main types of electroplating. The first, known as hot dip galvanizing, is the more traditional method used to harden metals by inducing a high current that quickly hardens the alloy. The second, known as cold dip plating, makes use of a lower current level and allows the creation of a thicker layer of alloy. Electroless nickel plating process is used in conjunction with other types of plating to produce a wide range of hardening solutions.
