Electroless nickel as applied to aluminium ?

January 29, 2009

I need help in implementing the best process for electroless nickel on aluminum

Oscar Manuel Villalobos Perez
Plating shop employee - Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

First of two simultaneous responses -- January 30, 2009

Other than the items that will be listed in the operations sheet for the EN, the biggest help is a proper double zincate step. This is very hard to tell the quality, so be sure to get some qualified help from the vendor and run a bunch of test parts. An alkaline electroless nickel strike is of great help in getting a good EN coat.

James Watts
- FL

Second of two simultaneous responses -- February 1, 2009

Clean and deox the aluminum, zincate in a dilute formulation, rinse, dip in 4 oz/gal Sodium Bicarbonate at room temp, rinse, strike in an ALKALINE ELECTROLESS NICKEL,rinse thru an ammoniated rinse water and enter the acid electroless nickel.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

Editor's note:
   Mr. Probert is the
   author of Aluminum How-To / Aluminio El Como

February 2, 2009

High temperatures did not affect the electroless nickel deposit on the zinc, because of the coefficient of expansion of aluminum?

OSCAR VILLALOBOS
- Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexixo