Electro-nickel plating and electroless nickel plating are two different metal surface treatment technologies that differ significantly in principle, application and characteristics.
Author: Anna
Electro-nickel plating and electroless nickel plating are two different metal surface treatment technologies that differ significantly in principle, application and characteristics. The following are the main points of difference between the two methods of nickel plating:
1. Process Principle
Electroless nickel plating: An external power supply is required to drive the electrolysis process, with the workpiece as the cathode and the nickel plate as the anode, both of which are submerged in an electrolyte containing nickel salts. When the electric current passes through, nickel ions are reduced to nickel metal on the surface of the workpiece, forming a plating layer.
Chemical nickel plating: No applied current is needed, and the formation of the plating layer is based on chemical reaction. Nickel salt and reducing agent are contained in the plating solution. The catalytic activity on the surface of the workpiece prompts the reducing agent to reduce nickel ions to metallic nickel, which is deposited on the workpiece.
2. Plating speed
Electroless nickel plating is usually faster than chemical nickel plating because of the effect of applied current.
3. Environmental friendliness
The additives used in electroless nickel plating are often more environmentally friendly, avoiding harmful substances that may be produced during the plating process, such as lead, cadmium and cyanide.
4. Uniformity of Plating
Chemical nickel plating layer is more uniform, can cover the complex shape of the workpiece, almost to achieve the effect of imitation, while electroless nickel plating is affected by the current distribution, uniform plating ability is weaker.
5. Deep plating ability
Theoretically, electroless nickel plating can cover any shape of workpiece evenly, and the ability of deep plating is better than that of electroless nickel plating for slits, holes or complex geometrical shapes.
6. Plating bonding
The bonding strength of electroless nickel plating is generally higher than that of electroless nickel plating, which makes electroless nickel plating less likely to peel off.
7. Color Versatility
Electroless nickel plating is capable of a wide range of colors, while electroless nickel plating is usually only available in pure nickel-phosphorus alloy colors.
8. Plating structure
Electroless nickel plating, especially with high phosphorus content, has an amorphous structure with no visible crystal gaps on the surface, while electroless nickel plating has a crystalline structure.
9. Cost and application
Electroless nickel plating may cost more than electroless nickel plating, but electroless nickel plating is more suited to high volume production, whereas electroless nickel plating may be advantageous for special needs and low volume production.
These differences mean that when selecting a nickel plating process, the most appropriate plating method needs to be determined based on specific application requirements, cost considerations, and environmental factors.