Chemical
nickel plating

Wear & corrosion protection for the highest demands

Nickel-phosphorus coating for maximum durability

Chemical nickel plating is a high-precision process for surface finishing of metallic materials. The component is immersed in a nickel-containing process solution, which forms a uniform nickel-phosphorus layer without an external power source.

This layer offers excellent dimensional accuracy and protects against wear, corrosion and chemical influences, even in complex geometries with holes or cavities.

Even layer distribution
Perfect protection without reworking

The hardness of the layer can be further optimised through targeted post-treatment to ensure maximum durability.

Chemical nickel plating offers decisive advantages compared to galvanic processes:

Uniform layer distribution

Ideal for complicated geometries & cavities

Excellent dimensional accuracy

No layer build-up on edges & corners

High corrosion & wear resistance

Even under extreme conditions

Optimum sliding behaviour

Friction reduction for mechanical components

Electrical conductivity & thermal conductivity

Versatile use

What does a chemically nickel-plated surface look like?

Specific customisation of the surface structure is possible by pretreating the base material.

The appearance of the coating depends heavily on the surface preparation:

Blasted surfaces

Matt look

Polished surfaces

Metallic shine

Colour

Metallic bright with a slight yellow tint

Blasted surfaces

Matt look

Polished surfaces

Metallic shine

Colour

Metallic bright with a slight yellow tint

How resistant is a chemically nickel-plated surface?

The hardness can also be increased by tempering (heat treatment) to further improve abrasion resistance.

The wear resistance depends largely on the phosphorus content of the coating. The coating thickness also influences the mechanical load-bearing capacity:

2 – 10 μm

Protection against mild corrosion

10 – 25 μm

Medium wear & corrosion resistance

25 – 50 μm

High stress, ideal for machine components

> 50 μm

Extremely high load capacity for special applications

How electroless nickel plating optimises your component

A chemically nickel-plated layer combines many functional advantages:

High chemical resistance

Protection against acids, alkalis & aggressive media

Optimum dimensional accuracy

Uniform coating even on complex moulds

Excellent gliding & friction properties

Reduction of wear & friction

High surface hardness

Improved mechanical resistance

Good electrical & thermal conductivity

Use in electronics & mechanical engineering

Uniform coating – perfect for complex geometries

This property means that no complex post-processing is required, which makes the process particularly economical.

Electroless nickel plating ensures very even layer distribution, even in hard-to-reach areas such as:

Drill holes & recesses

Threads & fine structures

Free-form surfaces & inner contours

Nickel coating as reliable corrosion protection

The correct choice of coating thickness and phosphorus content is crucial to achieve optimum results.

Chemical nickel offers excellent corrosion resistance, in particular due to:

High phosphorus content

Optimised protection against aggressive media

Non-porous layer formation

No penetration of moisture or chemicals

Depending on the base material

Pre-treatment (polishing, grinding, milling) improves adhesion

Dimensions & technical possibilities

Metalux offers electroless nickel plating in various sizes and weights. Our systems are designed to meet a wide range of requirements in order to realise individual customer wishes.

What component sizes can be electroless nickel-plated?

Procedure / Processing	Length in mm	Width in mm	Depth in mm
Chemical nickel plating of steel	1010	320	725
Chemical nickel plating of brass and stainless steel	1010	320	725
Chemical nickel plating of aluminium	1010	320	725