Electroless nickel plating is a process that provides total corrosion protection for a variety of products. This process can be tailored to individual requirements and is used for accurate surface build-up for all steel products. It is a reliable, repeatable, and uniform process that produces a nickel-phosphorus alloy coating on a metal substrate.
VEEM Limited is one company that performs medium phosphorus electroless nickel plating in-house at its Canning Vale facility. The phosphorus content ranges from 9% to 12%, which provides total corrosion protection and accurate surface build-up for all steel products. VEEM has developed a plating process that can be customised according to a customer’s needs for surface hardness and corrosion protection. This process allows complex parts to be plated directly to their final dimensions without any additional finishing.
The electroless nickel plating process uses a chemical reaction to deposit a nickel-phosphorus alloy onto a metal substrate. Unlike electrolytic (galvanic) coatings, electroless nickel plating provides a uniform plating thickness with an accuracy to microns, inside and out. This eliminates the need for any post-plating finishing. The process is extremely accurate and can be applied without edge effects, which occur in electrolytic plating.
Electroless nickel plating is commonly used in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical, and food industry. It is commonly used to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of components and to provide a uniform surface finish. The process is also used to improve the hardness and lubricity of parts.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the electroless nickel plating market is projected to reach USD 6.2 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2020 to 2025. The report cites the increasing demand for electroless nickel plating in the automotive and aerospace industries as a key driver for this growth.
While electroless nickel plating provides many benefits, it also has some limitations. These include difficulty in plating large parts, high cost compared to other plating methods, and limited ability to plate certain substrates. However, many electroless nickel plating companies have implemented environmentally friendly practices to minimise their impact.
In conclusion, electroless nickel plating is a reliable and uniform process that provides total corrosion protection and accurate surface build-up for all steel products. It is commonly used in various industries, and the market is projected to continue to grow. While it has some limitations, many companies have implemented environmentally friendly practices to minimise their impact.
