×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Surface finish after nickel plating

Surface finish after nickel plating

Surface finish after nickel plating

(OP)
Can someone explain the expected change in surface finish after a part is subjected to electroless nickel plating?

I would expect the finish to measure a bit rougher.

RE: Surface finish after nickel plating

(OP)
No one??

What about any type of plating and surface finish?

RE: Surface finish after nickel plating

There isn't a definite answer.  Some plating will replicate the surface, some plating solutions include additives specifically for 'leveling' (especially copper used as an undercoating for bright nickel+chrome.)
  
With electroless nickel, probably slightly smooths a rough finish and slightly roughens a superfine finish.

Also, pre-plating can include etching or polishing treatments.

Anodizing definitely roughens surfaces, but only usually measurable with hard anodize.

RE: Surface finish after nickel plating

I was hoping that you would get a more authoritiative answer, but I'll comment.  There is a minimum surface finish that you can get with plating.
My experience with EN is that with smooth machined surfaces (better than 20microinch) the plated surface had a distinct texture.  Not only was it slightly rougher, but it was almost stippled or bumpy.  When we had a rough irregular surface (like a sand casting) the plated finish was a little smoother.
We were not doing anything to try and control the surface or the looks.  This was just to protect parts.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Rust never sleeps
Neither should your protection
http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm

RE: Surface finish after nickel plating

Re EdStainless's experience with EN on smooth machined surfaces.  A 'stippled or bumpy' EN surface usually indicates inadequate filtration of the plating solution, allowing suspended particules to be 'occluded' into the coating.  Such occlusions can be intentional, as when SiC or Teflon particles are co-deposited within the EN.



RE: Surface finish after nickel plating

I deal with electroless Nickel plating all the time and most of my plated parts have a very smooth surface and  are plated  Ni at 150-250 microinches.

Here are the plating companies I use. A reperesentative may be able to help you out:

General Metal Finishing, Attleboro, MA
Hi-Tech Gold plating, Worcester, MA

RE: Surface finish after nickel plating

Electroless Nickel should mimic the surface of the substrate. If the substrate is polished, the EN plate will be bright - if the substrate is etched, matte finish (assuming all components are within their operating parameters).

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources