ELECTROLESS NICKEL PLATING ON LOW-ALLOY STEEL

PROTECTION AND PERFORMANCE
FOR YOUR COMPONENTS

Componente in acciaio basso legato con rivestimento uniforme di nichelatura chimica

Electroless nickel plating
on low-alloy steel

Low-alloy steel and its alloys, including cast irons, are the most widespread materials in mechanical and plant engineering, but they are naturally subject to oxidation and corrosion, especially in humid, chemical or marine environments.

High-phosphorus electroless nickel plating (Electroless Nickel Plating) is the most effective solution for protecting components, giving them a uniform, adherent nickel layer with high corrosion and wear resistance, even on complex geometries, cavities and surfaces that are difficult to reach.

Why nickel-plate low-alloy steel?

Low-alloy steel is a structurally resistant material, but its surface presents important critical issues:

  • High tendency to oxidation and rust formation
  • Vulnerability to corrosion even in weakly aggressive environments
  • Surface wear under friction and/or mechanical contact conditions
  • Need to maintain stable dimensional tolerances over time

High-phosphorus electroless nickel plating (ENP 1012) makes it possible to overcome these limitations, depositing a protective layer that significantly improves the corrosion resistance and surface hardness of the component.

The electroless nickel plating
process on low-alloy steel

The pre-treatment cycle on carbon and low-alloy steels comprises stages of chemical degreasing, electrolytic pickling and surface activation, to guarantee perfect coating adhesion and the absence of porosity.

Deposition takes place chemically, without electric current, ensuring a uniform thickness over the entire surface of the part regardless of its geometry, with the consequent total absence of the “edge build-up” effect.

After deposition, a dehydrogenation heat treatment can be carried out which not only eliminates the risk of embrittlement but also improves the adhesion and mechanical properties of the coating. On request, specific heat treatments can be carried out to obtain hardness up to about 1000 HV.

Advantages of electroless nickel plating on low-alloy steel

  • Excellent corrosion protection
  • High hardness: 500-1000 HV (depending on post-deposition heat treatment)
  • Thickness uniformity even on holes, cavities, threads and complex geometries
  • Compatibility with the main ferrous alloys and with cast irons
  • Amorphous structure of the ENP 1012 deposit, free of porosity and corrosion-resistant

Where it is particularly suitable

Electroless nickel plating on low-alloy steel is frequently chosen for:

  • Fluid-power, pneumatic and hydraulic components
  • Valves, pump bodies and industrial fittings
  • Mechanical parts subject to wear, friction or corrosion
  • Components for the food, defence and pharmaceutical sectors

What is needed for
a quick assessment

To recommend the most suitable electroless nickel plating cycle,
it is useful to receive:

type of material (carbon steel, cast iron, specific alloy)
technical drawing with areas to be treated and to be excluded
design specifications
required thickness and operating conditions (corrosion, wear, temperature)

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