Stripping of Electroless Nickel Plating

Why Do Customers Request Nickel Stripping?

Customers ask for nickel to be stripped for several common reasons:

1. Refurbishment of Worn Parts

Over time, plated components can wear or become damaged. In these cases, we remove the remaining nickel coating and replate the part back to its original specification, giving it a second life.

2. Incorrect Thickness

Sometimes parts are plated to the wrong thickness due to a specification error. Rather than scrapping the component, the nickel can be stripped and the part replated to the correct thickness.

3. Quality Issues from Other Suppliers

We regularly see components that have been poorly plated elsewhere. Customers ask us to remove the existing coating and replate it correctly, ensuring it meets performance and quality requirements.

Different Materials, Different Stripping Methods

There is no “one size fits all” process for stripping electroless nickel. The method used depends entirely on the base material.

Stainless Steels

• Standard stainless alloys are stripped using nitric acid at ambient temperature.
• For nickel-rich stainless alloys, nitric acid cannot be used because it would attack the base material. These require alternative methods.

Aluminium

• Aluminium can be stripped in nitric acid at ambient temperature.
• The process must be carefully monitored, as leaving the part too long can cause the surface to become dull.

Mild Steel

• Mild steel is stripped using a proprietary, highly alkaline solution at around 90°C.
• Normally, anything that dissolves nickel will also attack mild steel.
• However, our solution contains special amines that form a passive protective layer over any exposed steel, preventing it from being attacked.
• This method also works for nickel-rich stainless alloys.

Yellow Metals (Brass and Copper)

• Brass and copper cannot be chemically stripped without damaging the base material.

Mechanical Stripping: Shotblasting

In some cases, chemical stripping isn’t necessary.

If a part:

• Is not delicate
• Has generous tolerances
• Does not require a pristine surface finish

Then shotblasting can be used to remove the nickel coating. This is often:

• Faster
• Cheaper
• A good alternative for suitable components

However, it is not suitable for precision parts or those with tight tolerances.

Getting It Right First Time

Stripping and replating is a valuable service, but it’s always best to get the specification right first time. That’s why we work closely with customers to understand:

• Operating environment
• Wear and corrosion requirements
• Dimensional tolerances
• Required coating thickness

Whether you need to refurbish a part, correct an error or fix poor-quality plating from another supplier, our stripping and replating service ensures your components are restored to the standard they should have been from the start. Get in touch with our expert team today!