The role of nickel in the field of electroplating

Nickel plating refers to covering a layer of durable and corrosion-resistant coating on steel and other metal substrates, and its corrosion resistance is 20% to 25% higher than that of zinc coating. Nickel-plated items are beautiful, clean, and not easy to rust. The processing volume of electroplated nickel is second only to electroplated zinc, and its consumption accounts for about 10% of the total nickel output. Nickel plating is divided into electroplating nickel and electroless nickel plating. The characteristics of nickel electroplating and electroless nickel plating are as follows:

Nickel electroplating The electroplating nickel layer has high stability in the air, extremely small crystals, and excellent polishing performance. The relatively high hardness of the coating can improve the wear resistance of the surface of the product. It is widely used in the coating of optical instruments to protect the decorative coating. , Casting mold electronic components, etc.

Electroless nickel plating Electroless nickel plating has good thickness uniformity, no hydrogen penetration, no hydrogen embrittlement, and no hydrogen removal after electroless nickel plating. Many electroless nickel-plated products have better corrosion resistance and high-temperature oxidation resistance than electroplated nickel. They can be deposited on the surface of various materials. They do not require DC motors or control equipment required for general electroplating. The heat treatment temperature is as low as 400℃. After the holding time, different corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance can be obtained. Therefore, it is especially suitable for the functional coating of parts with complex shapes and requiring abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance on the surface.

Types of nickel plating bath The types of nickel plating baths mainly include sulfate type, chloride type, sulfamate type, citrate type, fluoroborate type and so on. Among them, the sulfate type (low chloride), which is called Watts (Watt) nickel plating solution, is the most common in industry. The sulfamate type and fluoroborate type are suitable for thick nickel plating or electroforming. Citrate type is suitable for direct nickel plating on zinc die castings. The cost of these plating solutions is relatively high. Other nickel plating types include: ordinary nickel plating (dark plating), bright nickel, sulfamate nickel plating, high sulfur nickel, nickel seal, satin nickel, high stress nickel, multilayer nickel plating, citrate nickel plating, etc. .