To make items more durable and attractive, some manufacturing companies use a process known as nickel plating. This metal finishing technique gained attention in the 1800s, and its popularity continues internationally today. Here are answers to questions people ask frequently about how the process works and what benefits it offers.  

A Guide to Nickel Plating

What is nickel plating?

Nickel plating is an electrochemical process manufacturers often use on steel to add a strong metal coating to the material. The mildly acidic nickel plating chemical is heated to at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit to dissolve it, then transferred to the plating container. The solution’s temperature must be at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit to apply the coating effectively.

What are the benefits of nickel plating?

A nickel coating shields and protects the metal underneath from rust and corrosion as long as the coating remains undamaged. When you buff nickel, it produces a high, bright shine which many people find attractive. This user-friendly metal covering is often substituted for chrome because it can be mixed with chemicals without adding cyanide, a highly toxic substance.

Can you apply nickel to bare metals?

Steel, lead, brass, and copper are receptive to being plated directly with nickel. However, you cannot plate nickel onto zincated aluminum, die-cast zinc, or stainless steel without applying a copper coating first. The copper-coating process is called electroforming, which also serves to smooth any imperfections in bare metal.

Does an object have to be metal to nickel plate it?

An object doesn’t have to be metal to nickel plate it, but any nonmetal object must be prepared for nickel plating by electroforming it with copper. The copper coating allows you to electroplate organic items, such as leaves and seashells to make jewelry or inorganic items such as plastics or rocks for decorations.

The nickel plating team at Porter-Guertin Company are industry leaders in metal finishing. Based in Cincinnati, OH, these skilled metal specialists use the latest cutting-edge technology, delivering superior electroless nickel plating for protecting new parts or restoring worn-out ones. To learn more about their services, visit their website. To talk to a specialist about your project, call (513) 241-7663.