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Adding boron carbide with electroless nickel

I am the manufacturer of hosiery needles. I want to do the electroless nickel plating along with boron carbide for wear resistant. Please guide how can I do in my own factory. As I already doing electroless nickel how to add boron carbide?

Vikram Devgun
- Ludhiana, Punjab, India
2003

Proprietary technology is rarely given for free. I would say the full answer to your question is in the order of several tens of thousand dollars. In the remote event you could get it for free, would you be willing to share it publicly here?

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2003

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Yes, unfortinutely what Senior Marrufo says is true. There isn't a lot of information out there. To answer the question it sounds like "composite plating" which was discussed in the FAQ section under the subject NikaSil. I was wondering if there were any more good references for composite plating then were already mentioned in the NikaSil discussion. Thanks!

Karl Vollmers
- Züurich, Switzerland
2003

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I have been to places that do composite plating but did not want to see it because it is a trade secret and I did not want to restrict myself from future involvement in it. What is well known is that it is a slurry of particles in the plating solution, maintained in suspension with an agitation system, but I don't think anyone will share more information than that--such as what kind of thickening agents are used to maintain the slurry, or the details of how the agitation system is implemented.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

It takes a very strong agitation to keep the particles in suspension. Particle size has to be uniform and very small. Also they will have to be cleaned prior to use and periodically afterwards with acid and peroxide. The EN formulation probably will require an antipit or wetting agent that is compatible with the EN. Barrel plating will very probably not work and racks will have to have excellent holding power to withstand the very high agitation. You are talking about a long term trial and error experimentation to perfect the method. It probably is not a practical thing to try.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

Incorporating particles into electroless nickel plating has been done with quality and consistency for many years. An extensive array of hard, lubricating, and other types of particles are used in commercial composites. Proper chemistry and solution management are the key factors that must be addressed. Trying to home-brew a process is not practical. There are suppliers of EN plating systems specifically designed for composite plating..

Michael Feldstein
- Trenton, New Jersey, USA
2003

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It is my understanding that the application of boron carbide, boronizing, is done by spraying on the BC powder at about 250 degrees (I don't recall F or C). I would like to know if the electroless nickel could handle that? I have always wondered how it holds up to extremes.

James Delashmit
- Brighton, Tennessee, USA
2004