You asked: Differences between Electroplated and Electroless Nickel?

Although they both coat the same material, the two different processes will perform differently, have different attributes and different applications.

Nickel Plating provides a low cost, smooth and ductile coating that can be used in variety of applications. It provides a good level of corrosion and wear resistance and is quite often a base layer for a chromium deposit which increases hardness and gives a component a bright shiny finish. Most noticeably this is seen in the automotive industry for Chrome bumpers.

Electroless Nickel is a much more functional coating. The main advantage of Electroless Nickel is the uniformity of the coating which will deposit evenly including on uneven surfaces. This makes it an ideal process for components with intricate geometries with lots of holes, threading, cleavage and bends. It actually outperforms electroplated Nickel in terms of corrosion resistance and when heat treated can reach hardness levels that exceed chrome plating.

Why the difference in performance?

Nickel applied through electroplating is purer, whereas Electroless Nickel is typically an alloy consisting of around 85% of pure Nickel with the rest being made up of Phosphorus. It is this Phosphorus content that achieves the higher levels of corrosion and hardness. By changing this Phosphorus levels you can better apply Electroless Nickel to your application. Low Phosphorus deposits are better at combating alkaline chemical environments, and have a higher wear resistance. Medium Phosphorus deposits provide good levels of wear resistance and offer a good level of corrosion resistance to acidic chemicals. High Phosphorus deposits are the most corrosion resistance, and can combat against the widest range of chemicals but most noticeably those that are acidic in nature.

Which Process?

The application and environment your component must operate on will determine which of the Nickel Processes is better suited. Silchrome Plating offer both Electroplated and Electroless Nickel, with our many years of plating experience we can point you in the right direction as to which process would be best for you.

Silchrome Plating are ISO 9001 and 14001 certified and all of our processes are carried out in house at our production facility in Leeds, West Yorkshire.