Plating Electroless Nickel Plating - Electroless Nickel coatings are extremely uniform regardless of the parts geometry, it provides exceptional wear resistance, lubricity, hardness and corrosion resistance to a broad range of base materials, including non-conductors. These unique properties of the coating are achieved non-electrically through metal ion exchange by chemical reduction in a hot aqueous solution. The resulting alloy is principally composed of nickel and phosphorous. The properties of EN coatings allow the use of alternative materials to effect economies with increased corrosion and wear resistance. The steadily increasing use of electroless nickel plating can be attributed to marked improvements in solution stability, pretreatment cycles, reducing agents and the equipment used.One of the major characteristics making its use more prevalent is the ability of the process to provide uniform thickness deposits in deep recesses, bores and blind holes. Other characteristics are: excellent corrosion, wear and abrasion resistance, ductility, lubricity, solderability, electrical conductivity and hardness. "Electroless Nickel" is a generic term describing the deposition of an alloy composed principally of nickel and phosphorous. Deposition of the alloy is achieved by chemical reduction. The process is nonelectrolytic. Reduction of the nickel alloy occurs during immersion of an activated surface into a hot aqueous solution. Gold Plating Gold is unique with its yellow color. Also, gold is a precious metal, which means that it will not oxidize in air, so its electrical conductivity stays uniform over long periods of time. It is ideally suited for electroplating applications. Gold plating offers good corrosion resistance, good solderability, and when alloyed with cobalt, it has very good wear resistance. Gold is commonly used in electrical switch contacts, connector pins and barrels, and other applications where intermittent electrical contact occurs. Copper Plating Copper, after nickel, is the second most common metal plated. It is an excellent electrical conductor. It provides a soft, red, ductile, and solderable surface. Copper, because of its softness, is not commonly used as a final plate. It is an excellent undercoat for most other metals due to its excellent leveling properties and very high throwing efficiency. In addition, because copper is ductile, it polishes easily to a high shine so that it supports a bright, shiny finishing metal above it. Copper is an excellent undercoat on aluminum, which is a base metal that most other electrodeposited metals will not attach to. Tin Plating (Matte and Bright finishes) Tin is a silver-colored, ductile metal whose major application is to impart solderability to otherwise unsolderable base metals. Tin has generally good covering characteristics over a wide range of shapes. It is an electrolytic process. Tin and its salts are reported to be non-toxic and non-carcinogenic and are approved for food container and food contact applications. Tin plating - soft, ductile finish Tin does not tarnish easily and can serve as a low cost decorative finish, although care must be exercised in subsequent part handling as tin is a soft, ductile finish that can scratch or mar easily. Tin plating - corrosions protection & conductivity Tin is a good electrical conductor and has historically been utilized for its combined corrosion protection and conductivity in aerospace avionics radio frequency applications. Primarily used to facilitate solderability to base metals that have poor solderability. A ductile, bright finish. Can serve as a low cost decorative finish. Bright acid tin’s ductility will help prevent galling of base metals in friction contact applications. It applies well to most base metals; will act as a stop-off barrier in nitriding high strength steels; has a bright appearance; and provides some corrosion resistance. Tin plating - corrosion properties For indoor environments, tin provides anti-corrosion properties to copper and copper alloys, and ferrous metals. Note that tin is not an optimal choice for corrosion protection where outdoor environments are expected. Tin should be not less than 99.5% pure except where alloyed for special purposes. Tin plating - brightening system Professional Plating uses a proprietary brightening system that combines chemistry and process to insure a consistently bright finish. For a dull matte finish we recommend alkaline tin. Selective electroplating Sometimes design requires that only selected areas of the part be plated. EMS is the specialist for this unique project. Heat treating Some parts require heat treating. Heat-Treating operations reduce residual stresses in cast iron by heating a part to an elevated temperature, and then cooling it at a controlled rate. This process changes mechanical behavior of the metal, increases its machine-ability, and makes it stronger. It is commonly used for parts that require high durability and spring qualities.