Our Electroless Nickel Plating services
Electroless Nickel PTFE composite
Ni-PTFE plating is a unique plating solution that combines some of the hardness qualities of Electroless Nickel with the lubricity of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The Ni-PTFE plating process has been used extensively in the automotive, engineering and mould and die industries.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer (blends of high-performance resins and fluoropolymer lubricant) of tetrafluoroethylene that has numerous applications. PTFE has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of any solid.
Being hydrophobic (tending to repel or fail to mix with water), non-wetting and high-density PTFE is an incredibly versatile material with a wide variety of applications.
Electroless Nickel PTFE is an innovative coating with self-lubricating properties. Electroless Nickel PTFE composite combines the low friction release properties of PTFE with the functional wear resistant hardness of electroless nickel. It provides a lubricious, hard, uniform coating that is accurately deposited.
Tailoring the chemical makeup of the Electroless Nickel PTFE coating is integral to obtaining the maximum performance for each application’s requirement. CBE+’s application engineers will formulate the optimum solution for each individual application.
How does Electroless Nickel PTFE process work?
Sub-micron particles of PTFE are added to the plating solution and are co-deposited with the Electroless Nickel; this ensures an even distribution of the PTFE particles throughout the plated layer. The amount of PTFE can be varied in the solution to give the performance characteristics required depending on the final application of the plated component. PTFE coating uses the electroless application method as conventional electroless nickel plating and therefore offers the advantages of highly accurate, uniform deposits available for a wide range of substrates.
Benefits & Properties:
- Low friction.
- Self-lubrication.
- Provides an alternative where conventional lubricants would be harmful to components.
- Corrosion prevention.
- Extended lifetime.
- Ideal for inaccessible parts.
- Anti-galling of moulds and dies.
- Reduces the sound made by slides, bearings and cylinder or piston assemblies.
- Reliable operation in cryogenic (effects of very low temperatures) temperatures
The Heat Treatments at CBE+ can be used for stress relieving and de-embrittlement as both pre-plate and post-plate treatments. High temperature Heat Treatment methods are used to diffuse the Electroless Nickel layer into the steel, giving a degree of flexibility to the coating without jeopardising the corrosion resistance of the deposit.
We have five ovens at our facilities – small components can be loaded onto shelves to maximise the Heat Treatment capacity and minimise the cost of the treatment for our customers.
Benefits include:
- Increased flexibility
- Optimised capacity to reduce costs
- Maintains Electroless Nickel Plating corrosion protection
- Quality system ensures correct time achieved
- Quality system ensures correct temperatures achieved
Heat Treatment
The Heat Treatments at CBE+ can be used for stress relieving and de-embrittlement as both pre-plate and post-plate treatments. High temperature Heat Treatment methods are used to diffuse the Electroless Nickel layer into the steel, giving a degree of flexibility to the coating without jeopardising the corrosion resistance of the deposit.
We have five ovens at our facilities – small components can be loaded onto shelves to maximise the Heat Treatment capacity and minimise the cost of the treatment for our customers.
Shot blasting:
Shot Blasting is a great way to ensure each order is produced to the highest standard, especially the parts that are frosty and scaly. At CBE+ we have the capacity to Shot Blast components of up to 10 tonnes in weight. We also use aluminium oxide 80-120 grit to ensure a high standard of surface, should this be required.
The Shot Blast booth at CBE+ has a capacity of 216m3.
Barrel Plating
Barrel Plating is a form of Electroless Nickel Plating used for plating a high volume of smaller metal objects in one sitting. It consists of a non-conductive barrel-shaped cage in which the objects are placed before being subjected to the chemical bath in which they become plated. It can also avoid airlocks as the parts are in motion due to the barrel turning.
However, because of the large amount of surface contact that the pieces have with each other, Barrel Plating is not always suitable when precisely engineered or ornamental finishes are required, however in some cases this can be beneficial during the cleaning process as some parts may require being de scaled and the action of the parts rubbing on each other can aid this process.
Barrel Plating offers a cost-effective means of plating a high volume of small, durable parts such as stampings and fasteners. It also works well for plating parts of various shapes and sizes.