Electroless nickel plating is a process in which nickel ions in a plating solution are reduced to nickel metal and deposited on the surface of a workpiece using a reducing agent in the absence of an applied current.
Author: Anna
Electroless nickel plating is a process in which nickel ions in a plating solution are reduced to nickel metal and deposited on the surface of a workpiece using a reducing agent in the absence of an applied current. The process is usually carried out in a solution containing nickel salts and a reducing agent, where the nickel salts serve as the main components of the plating solution and the reducing agent is responsible for reducing the nickel ions to nickel metal. Common reducing agents include hypophosphite and sodium borohydride.
The specific steps of chemical nickel plating include the following stages:
Preparation of the catalytic surface: First, it is necessary to ensure that the surface of the workpiece is catalytically active, which is usually achieved by specific chemical treatments.
Heating of the solution: The plating solution is heated to the appropriate temperature (usually between 60-95°C), but at this point the plating solution does not react immediately.
Reduction reaction: In the heated plating solution, a reducing agent (e.g., hypophosphite) reacts, releasing atomic hydrogen, which is adsorbed on the catalytic surface and activated.
Nickel ion reduction: The activated surface is able to adsorb nickel ions and reduce them to nickel metal, while generating phosphorus and other by-products.
Deposition process: As the reaction proceeds, metallic nickel is gradually deposited on the surface of the workpiece, forming a dense plating layer.
Application areas of electroless nickel plating
Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, hardness and uniformity, chemical nickel plating is widely used in various industrial fields. For example:
Electronic industry: Used in the manufacture of circuit boards, connectors, etc. to improve electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Automotive industry: used in the manufacture of automotive parts to improve corrosion and wear resistance.
Aerospace: Used in the manufacture of aircraft and rocket components to meet demanding performance standards.
Mechanical Manufacturing: Used in the manufacture of a wide range of mechanical parts to improve their durability and performance.