Letter 38005

Can electroless plating deposit Inconel 625? [Kuwait] 

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We are having a industrial hard shop and recently had an enquiry whether it is possible to have an electroless plating using Inconel 625 (Nickel alloy). I understand that this alloy has high corrosion resistance. Wanted to know whether such a process exists for this compound and who can help in this process.

GEORGE ABRAHAM
SHBC MECH DIVISION , Kuwait - KUWAIT

If your EN is from an international company, they have somewhat of an obligation to help you with a proper process or risk losing you to another company.
If it is a "home brew" you are going to have to get into the books. You may find some help at the INCO web site.
Being high nickel, it is tough to activate in comparrison to other materials. A very clean part is important. Avoid anodic caustic cleaners with very high caustic levels. Periodic reverse is ok, and would be my choice as soak cleaning is slow. Experiment with various acid activators. Rapidly rinse and get into the EN tank as it will passivate rapidly. If is ammenable to rapid movement, a warm rinse tank is better than a cold one as EN plating will start faster, (but the water film will dry much faster). You might add enough ammonia to raise the pH to 8 which will allow a faster start of plating in the EN. frequent small additions will be required, depending on the amount of acid drag in. If your adhesion requirements are high, you might have to use a Woods nickel strike before the EN.

James Watts
- FL

There are no electroless processes for depositing alloys like Inconel.

Ron Duncan Palm International, Inc. - LaVergne, TN

Ed. note: It is our sad duty to alert the readers to the passing of Ron Duncan on Dec. 15, 2006. For those who would like to know more about him, a brief obituary opened Update No. 13 of our Metal Finishing Industry Update Podcast.

I did not read the question correctly. Ron is absolutely correct.

James Watts
- FL

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