Electroless Nickel Plating
化学镀镍
Auto-catalytic nickel-phosphorus plating delivering uniform thickness on complex geometries, with medium- and high-phosphorus grades for hardness or corrosion resistance.
Electroless nickel (EN) plating is an auto-catalytic chemical process that deposits a uniform nickel-phosphorus alloy onto a part without any electric current. Because the reaction is chemical rather than electrical, the coating builds to an even thickness on every surface — including bores, threads, blind holes, and complex internal geometries that conventional electroplating cannot coat uniformly.
At Active Treatment, we run both medium-phosphorus and high-phosphorus electroless nickel lines, so we can tune the deposit for hardness and wear or for maximum corrosion resistance. Deposits grow predictably (typically within ±2 µm in production), making plated tolerances easy to hold on precision components.
Medium-Phosphorus Electroless Nickel
Medium-phosphorus EN (6–9% P) offers the highest as-deposited hardness (HV 500–550, rising to ~HV 900 after heat treatment at 350–400°C) and excellent wear resistance. It is the preferred grade for tooling, moulds, hydraulic components, and engineering parts where hardness and abrasion resistance matter most.
High-Phosphorus Electroless Nickel
High-phosphorus EN (10–13% P) has a near-amorphous microstructure with outstanding resistance to acidic, alkaline, and saline environments. It delivers 1,000+ hours of salt-spray resistance (ASTM B117) without passivation and is non-magnetic (magnetic permeability <1.001), making it ideal for oil & gas downhole components, chemical processing equipment, marine hardware, and sensitive electronic assemblies.
Corrosion Resistance Comparison
The two grades trade hardness for corrosion protection. Choose medium-P for wear-critical parts and high-P for aggressive chemical or marine exposure:
| Property | Medium-P (6–9%) | High-P (10–13%) |
|---|---|---|
| As-deposited hardness | HV 500–550 | HV 450–500 |
| Salt-spray resistance (ASTM B117) | 200–500 hours | 1,000+ hours |
| Microstructure | Microcrystalline | Near-amorphous |
| Magnetic response | Slightly magnetic | Non-magnetic |
| Best for | Wear & hardness | Corrosion & chemicals |
Typical Applications
Electroless nickel is used wherever parts need uniform corrosion and wear protection on complex shapes — valves, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, moulds and dies, fasteners, shafts, and fluid-path hardware across the oil & gas, chemical processing, marine, automotive, and precision engineering sectors.
Semiconductor Applications
Our cleanroom-adjacent EN line meets the purity and low-particle requirements of the semiconductor equipment sector. We regularly plate wafer-handling arms, vacuum chucks, gas-line components, and precision jigs, where uniform coverage, dimensional stability, and a non-magnetic, corrosion-resistant surface are essential.
Key Benefits
- Perfectly uniform thickness on any geometry — blind holes, bores and threads included
- Medium-P hardness HV 500, up to HV 900 after heat treatment
- High-P grade delivers 1,000+ hours salt-spray corrosion resistance
- Non-magnetic high-phosphorus deposit for sensitive assemblies
- Plates steel, stainless steel, aluminium and copper alloys
- RoHS compliant with predictable, easy-to-hold tolerances
Specifications
| Substrate | Steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper alloys |
|---|---|
| Plating thickness | 5–50 µm |
| Phosphorus content | 6–9% (medium-P) or 10–13% (high-P) |
| As-deposited hardness | HV 450–550 |
| Post-heat-treat hardness | HV 850–1000 |
| Corrosion resistance (high-P) | 1000+ hours NSS (ASTM B117) |
| Magnetic permeability (high-P) | <1.001 (non-magnetic) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is electroless nickel plating?
Electroless nickel plating is an auto-catalytic chemical process that deposits a uniform nickel-phosphorus alloy onto a part without any electric current. Because the reaction is chemical rather than electrical, the coating builds to an even thickness on every surface — including bores, threads, blind holes, and complex internal geometries that conventional electroplating cannot coat uniformly.
How does electroless nickel differ from electroplating?
Conventional electroplating relies on electric current, so the deposit concentrates on edges and high points and thins out in recesses. Electroless nickel uses a chemical reducing reaction instead, depositing the same thickness on every surface regardless of shape. The result is true uniform coverage on complex parts and a hard, non-magnetic nickel-phosphorus deposit.
What is the difference between medium and high phosphorus EN?
Medium-P (6–9%) EN has higher as-deposited hardness and better wear resistance. High-P (10–13%) EN has lower crystallinity (near-amorphous), offering superior corrosion resistance in aggressive chemical environments. Choose high-P for chemical or marine exposure, medium-P for wear applications.
Can electroless nickel be plated on aluminium?
Yes. Aluminium requires a zincate pre-treatment before EN plating to ensure adhesion. We perform this in-house. Please specify the alloy so we can select the appropriate pre-treatment.
What does heat treatment do to electroless nickel?
Heat treatment at 350–400°C converts the amorphous nickel-phosphorus deposit to a crystalline Ni3P structure, increasing hardness from ~HV 500 to ~HV 900. This also improves adhesion but slightly reduces corrosion resistance.
Is electroless nickel suitable for semiconductor components?
Yes. Our EN line meets the purity requirements of the semiconductor sector. We plate wafer handling arms, vacuum chucks, and precision jigs regularly.
How do I specify the EN thickness for my application?
Typical engineering applications use 12–25 µm. Wear-critical applications may specify up to 50 µm. For corrosion protection only, 5–10 µm is often sufficient. We can advise based on your operating environment.
Request a Quote
Contact Active Treatment Pte Ltd in Singapore for Electroless Nickel Plating. Call +65 6352 9846 or email activetreatment88@yahoo.com.sg.