Electroless Nickel coating is simply an engineer’s dream. It is an alloy of nickel and phosphorous which offers excellent corrosion protection in extreme conditions, superb wear resistance and hardness. ENP also offers the ability to work to close tolerances without post-plating grinding, whilst holding the original surface finish.
Firma-Chrome are able to Electroless Nickel plate most base materials – steel, brass, copper, stainless steel – and we are one of the few companies in the UK that can process large aluminium items.
Electroless nickel has greatly extended the lifespan of mould tools like these
Electroless Nickel can improve corrosion resistance, wear resistance, lubricity and solderability or be used to rectify and recover close tolerance undersize parts. The big advantage of electroless (chemical) plating over electrolytic plating is its ability to plate complex shapes completely and uniformly. Sharp angles, recesses, and deep holes offer no obstacle as wherever the solution touches it will plate.
Applications are limitless and the process has been widely used for many years throughout most engineering disciplines; especially automotive, offshore, defence, aerospace, petrochemical, electronics, plastics and nuclear. It is highly recommended for offshore applications as it offers the very best levels of protection.
More information can be found in this detailed pdf report on the process, published by the Surface Engineering Association.