| Electroless Nickel (EN) plating is a solution used to | | | | Teflon is applied in micro beads within the nickel plating. |
| improve the hardness and corrosion resistance of | | | | The micro beads make the plating very friction |
| metal surfaces. This type of nickel plating is used in | | | | resistant. This plating type has good wear-resistance, |
| conjunction with one of three other materials (boron, | | | | but does not have advanced corrosion protection |
| phosphorous or Teflon). | | | | capabilities. |
| EN-Boron has a very high melting point and is highly | | | | EN plating is commonly used to battle corrosion. EN is |
| wear-resistant. EN-Boron is not as corrosion resistant | | | | chosen over other metal finishes (galvanizing, zinc |
| as other forms of EN. | | | | plating, powder coating, etc.) because it acts as an |
| EN-Phosphorus is the most common and versatile of | | | | ultra-hard barrier to corrosion. A unique feature to |
| the nickel solutions. Varying the phosphorus content | | | | electroless plating is its deposit uniformity. As this |
| changes the attributes of the plating solution. A higher | | | | process does not require an electric current, the |
| level of phosphorus makes the plating non-magnetic | | | | particles cling to the surface evenly and do not |
| and extremely corrosion resistant (especially with | | | | gravitate to magnetic poles. |
| acids). Lower levels of phosphorus make the plating | | | | Numerous industries require electroless nickel plating, |
| harder, but slightly less corrosion-resistant. This flexibility | | | | including the automotive industry, aerospace, molds, |
| is why EN-Phosphorus is the most common type of | | | | dies, chemical, electronics, etc. The main use for EN in |
| EN plating utilized. | | | | each of these industries is its natural corrosion |
| EN-Teflon is a special non-stick plating solution. The | | | | protection. |