HOME FAQs BOOKS JOBS: Help Wanted Suggestions      you are here: Hotline/Forum => Letter 4238

---

Electroless Nickel Plating of Powder Metal Products

.

I am working for a small plating company. They are having trouble achieving a quality eletroless nickel plating on powder metal products. Does anyone have any suggestions for pretreatment and process control that may help? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

David J. Zeese
BMT - Indianapolis, Indiana USA

---

.

David:

From your letter, I do not know the nature of the problems you are experiencing. I do know that many powder metal companies resin impregnate their parts before plating. Resin impregnating seals the porosity in the part and provides a much better plating surface.

Richard Toms
- Macon, Georgia

---

.

I have plated on a limited basis EN on powdered metal parts. If the parts are being impregnated ( and done correctly), the other area of concern is proper surface prep of the parts. My experience has been the aklaine cleaning may need to be adjusted to properly remove excess resin. Electrocleaning can be detrimental, it tends to open up pores, and you need to watch any pickling steps. It worked for us to go with a stronger acid a shorter period of time if it was needed at all. Also, beware that the powder that makes up the part probably contains other metals than iron such as copper. Good Luck!

Mike Wells
Jamestown Electro Plating - jamestown, NY

---

.

David, Resin impregnation is a remedy that will fill the porosity voids in your powder metal parts and provide a much better surface for plating. As well, you will get increased machinability through this process. The thing to watch for when using resin impregnation is cleanliness. Although there is no specification for actually cleanliness required, the cleaner the part, the better the process works.

Joe Babcock
- Ann Arbor, Michigan