finishing-and-treatment-manufacturing-processes > Electroless Nickel Plating

Electroless Nickel Plating is a process where a nickel-phosphorous alloy coating is added to a metal component through an auto-catalytic chemical reaction.

The key difference with Electroless Nickel Plating compared with Nickel Electroplating is highlighted in the name of the process – Electroless Nickel Plating does not require the use of an electrical current to coat the component. The component to be coated is submerged in a solution, and coating is applied to wherever the component touches. This makes the coating of more complex features, such as the inside of a tube or hole, much easier.

The advantage of Electroless Nickel Plating is the uniformity of the nickel applied to the surface of the component. This is due to the process not being affected by varying areas of current density.

The process can be applied to a range of metals and uses a nickel-phosphorous alloy to provide the coating. Depending on the required application, the phosphorous content can range between 3% and 13%.

Typical applications for Electroless Nickel Plating include valves, pumps, gears and splined shafts.