Summary for electroless nickel plating process sequence Discussion
electroless nickel plating process sequence is not something to guess at, especially for a new small plant. Yogesh asked for a flowchart or step-by-step setup after seeing claims that EN plating needs no electric connection, but sellers mentioned rectifiers and anodes. The reply warns that, in the answerer’s opinion, it is foolish to design a plating line without experience, a consultant, or at least training and books. The practical first step, according to the answerer, is to identify health, safety, and environmental requirements. Next, have sample parts plated and tested by an independent shop so the needed sequence can be determined. The answer also explains that the process depends on the substrate and service conditions: even if electroless nickel itself does not require current, rectifiers and anodes may still be needed for electrocleaning, and copper or brass may need a rectifier to start the electroless process.
Q. Hi my name is yogesh. I am trying to set up new electroless nickel plating small plant for my own personal work. As it is mentioned over web that EN plating does not require electric connection. But when I was querying to sellers they are mentioning the use of rectifiers and anode. I do not know anything about these processes so can anyone help me to give me flowchart of the EN plant setup so that I will manage by my own, or post some stepwise pictures of setting the setup.
Yogesh Samant
– Uttrakhand , India
October 19, 2019
A. Hi Yogesh. My personal opinion is that it is foolish for someone with no plating experience to try to design a plating line and establish a plating process on their own without a consultant … or as a minimum hiring an experienced plater, taking a plating course, and reviewing a few books on the subject.
But if you’re going to rely on internet advice, step 1 is to determine what health & safety and environmental guidelines you will need to comply with. Then you should have some sample parts plated by an independent shop and tested so you have some idea what sequence will be necessary for satisfactory parts.
As far as the process sequence itself, we need to start with what the parts are, what metal or plastic they are made of, and what environmental conditions they must withstand. Even the most basic question of a generalized pretreatment plating cycle and whether you need rectifiers & anodes will depend on what the substrate is made of — if any metal other than aluminum, rectifiers and anodes are probably required for the electrocleaning step even if nowhere else. If the parts are copper or brass you also need a plating rectifier to jump start the electroless plating process. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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October 2019