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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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The best nickel?
What is the difference between sulphamate nickel, hard nickel and high sulphate nickel? Which one offers the best adhesion, wear resistant and hardness?
veronica dewis- Miami, Florida
2000
Adhesion is far more a question of proper preparation and pretreatment than of the kind of nickel plating solution used.
Properties of Electrodeposited Metals and Alloys [affil link to Amazon or on AbeBooks affil links] offers a 70-page chapter on the properties of nickel deposited under different conditions without (as far as I saw from a quick scan) using the term 'hard nickel' or 'high sulphate nickel'. So I'm not convinced that these are meaningful terms; these terms may be akin to "commercial zinc", which means absolutely nothing, or they may have some accepted meaning that I'm not familiar with.![Ted Mooney, finishing.com](../portraits/ted_mooney_beach.jpg)
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2000
Sulfamate (also spelled with a ph) is comparatively soft and ductile, so is a poor choice for many wear applications. It can be hardened, but bright nickel is harder so would probably be a better choice for wear when that is the ONLY consideration. Electroless nickel has the best wear capabilities of all nickels in 99+% of the applications.
Chrome is an alternative. Vapor deposited materials are alternatives. It really depends on the application-- the whole picture, not just one facet.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
2000
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