Nickel is an element that has useful non-corrosive properties. Since its founding in 1953, Cincinnati, OH-based Porter-Guertin Co. has been dedicated to providing its customers with superior coating and finishing services, including hard chrome plating and electroless nickel plating.

Electroless nickel plating is not as complicated as electroplating, which requires an electric current passing through a chemical bath solution. Instead, electroless nickel plating is a chemical reduction process used to coat and harden metallic or non-metallic surfaces with a layer of nickel-phosphorus or nickel-boron alloy in order to make them more resistant to friction and corrosion. In electroless nickel plating, the solid surface is pretreated with chemicals to clean off any oils or corrosive elements. Next, a solution containing a chemical reducing agent preps the surface for plating. Once the surface is plated and smooth, it can be baked to increase its hardness, making it even stronger.

Electroless nickel plating can be used to strengthen the surface of items both large and small. Here are a few of the benefits of the electroless nickel-plating process:

• Energy Efficient: Because it does not require electricity to complete the process, electroless nickel plating can be considered more energy efficient than electroplating.
• Customized: Plating can be done smoothly and evenly in accordance with the desired volume and thickness.
• Finish: Different types of finishes can be achieved, including bright, semi-bright, or matte.

If you’d like to learn more about the electroless nickel plating and other metal finishing services available from Porter-Guertin Co., visit them online or call (513) 241-7663.