What is Electroless Nickel Plating?
Electroless nickel plating (EN) is a layer of nickel-phosphorus alloy on a metal or plastic substrate, and has a better ability of anti-wear, anti-friction and anti-corrosion compared with electroplated nickel. The phosphorus content ranging from 2% to 13% in EN can be categorized into below three types:
- ) Low phosphorus EN: Widely applied for CNC parts which requires uniform thickness nickel plating both inside and outside.
- ) Medium phosphorus EN: Most seen in industrial, electronic applications or decorative purpose. The thicker electroless nickel plating is, the brighter the surface is, vise versa.
- ) High phosphorus EN: Best corrosion resistance for CNC precision parts which requires ability of against highly corrosive acidic environments. Best surface finish with minimized porosity, nearly pit-free.
Below photo shows workpieces with electroless nickel plating(left) and electroplated nickel(right).
