What Are the Benefits and Applications of Nickel Plating for Carbon Steel?

Steel is one of the most broadly used metals in the world, but its intrinsic weaknesses can cause issues for all kinds of businesses and industries. High maintenance costs and vulnerability to corrosion can be difficult to work around, but you can minimize these issues with appropriate metal plating solutions.

There are many different types of products on the market that incorporate a type of nickel plating in the manufacturing process. Nickel plating involves adding a thin layer of nickel onto a metal object for a variety of reasons including decorative purposes or to provide wears and corrosion resistance. It is ideal to find a high-quality metal finishing service provider for carbon steel nickel plating and many others. Below, I’m going to share the benefits and application of nickel plating for carbon steel.

Can Steel Be Nickel Plated?

Nickel plating on carbon and mild steel doesn’t differ from other plating. In this method, steel is submerged in an aqueous solution that utilises chemicals agents to reduce nickel ions and facilitate deposition. The method is highly stable and produces an even nickel coating.

Steel can be considerably more complicated due to the level of other constituents present. You can still apply a nickel layer to steel with the right procedure, which includes a pre-plate sequence that calls for thorough cleaning and a nickel strike. And you can complete the process with a highly acidic, all-chloride solution, which requires extensive time to take hold.

Benefits of Nickel Plating for Steel

Nickel plating produces even higher degrees of hardness when compared to chrome, and it touts better erosion resistance, too.

Uniform depositions, which cover the entire surface area of the component, create a less-porous surface, which decreases friction and eradicates openings for environmental factors.

For steel, an already corrosion-resistant metal, nickel coating can help to make it easier to solder, more hard-wearing and even more resistant to radiation.

What Are Common Applications for Nickel Plating on Steel?

Nickel plating benefits carbon and mild steel machinery that rests in the inner workings of vehicles, like brake calliper pins, pinion shafts, gears, and bleeder screws.

If you work in the oil and gas industries, where harsh conditions and demanding operating procedures are common, nickel plating can benefit ball valves, gate valves, and butterfly valves, as well as mixer shafts and heat exchangers. When it comes to steel, you'll see nickel plating used in battery applications, as well as hydraulic levelling systems and firearms manufacturing.

These are some benefits and applications of nickel plating for carbon steel. You can find a reliable metal finishing service provider for carbon steel nickel plating, zinc nickel plating, and many others.