Summary for nickel plating friction problem Discussion
Friction problem in nickel plating parts is the core issue in this hinge-style component: two mild steel strips are nickel plated and joined with a nickel plated rivet, but after a few rotations the joint jams as nickel is worn away and the mating areas scratch. Naved Ahmad asked whether oil or grease is required, or if another solution exists. Don Baudrand advised that the better fix is to use a stainless steel rivet rather than a plated rivet. His answer implies the wear problem is coming from the plated contact surfaces, and that lubrication may help in use, but the more durable design change is to avoid a plated rivet in the joint. No conflicting advice appears in the thread excerpt.
DEAR READERS,
I AM DEVELOPING A HINGE TYPE COMPONENT. THESE ARE TWO 1.5 MM THICK MILD STEEL BARREL NICKEL PLATED 11 X 90 MM STRIP PIECES. HAS A HOLE IN EACH STRIP END & BOTH ARE JOINED THROUGH A NICKEL PLATED RIVET. JOINT IS NEITHER VERY TIGHT NOR LOOSE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THE ASSEMBLED PART. AFTER RIVETING WHEN WE START ROTATING’ AFTER A FEW ROTATION IT GETS JAM DUE TO REMOVAL OF NICKEL & SCRATCHES IN THE AREA WHICH ARE FACING EACH OTHER. please TELL HOW WE CAN SOLVE THIS. AS WHEN I USE SOME OIL OR GREASE IN THAT AREA IT WORKS WELL. WILL I HAVE TO USE OIL & GREASE AS A MUST? OR IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY ALSO. please REPLY.
NAVED AHMAD
– KANPUR, U.P., India
2005
 | Plate at least one surface using electroless nickel phosphorus. Nickel against nickel will almost always gall. but electroless NiP does not gall. You could use ENP on both surfaces.
A. >Naved Use a Stainless Steel rivet. Don’t use a plated rivet.
A. Hi Naved Are you using electrolytic or electroless nickel? If electrolytic is it nickel sulphate or a nickel sulfamate bath? Sounds like you need to either plate in a hard nickel sulfamate bath or chrome plate the nickel. Jeff Marten A. Nickel against nickel is like stainless steel, it will gall, IE: it will try to cold weld together. If there is a heavy load or if the load is mild, but, with a frequent motion, nickel is a poor choice. Lubrication will be required. You could try electroless nickel plating the smaller of the two parts and see if that will work. James Watts |
