How was electroless nickel plating invented?
Electroless nickel plating is one of the most common forms of electroplating, being used in a diverse range of industries from automotive and agriculture to engineering and industrial manufacturing. However, even though it is ubiquitous today, it is actually a very modern invention. In 1805, the Italian chemist Luigi Valentino Brugnatelli made a startling scientific discovery when he invented modern electrochemistry. Though Brugnatelli's work was suppressed by the French Academy of Sciences, it would become the foundation of electroplating - something we still use today. By 1839, printing press plates used copper electroplating in both Britain and Russia.
After the two World Wars, the quickly evolving aviation industry gave rise to great leaps in the development of electroplating, with paving laid for what would eventually become electroless nickel plating. Processes such as a hard chrome, bronze alloy and nickel plating became popular, thanks to their durability and wear resistance.
Electroless nickel plating was invented in the 1940s, as an autocatalytic process triggered by chemicals rather than an electrical charge. Since its invention in 1946, this process has been widely used in industries all over the world.
Brenner wrote his and Riddell's discovery was an accidental one, and they filed a patent for electroless nickel plating in order to protect the United States government's rights to the process. The process was later refined by Gutzeit at General American Transportation Corporation (GATC) during the mid to late fifties.
Electroless nickel plating quickly became a popular process, and remains so today, thanks to not requiring electrical power, or expensive jigs or racks. Its greatest expense was replenishing the chemical solution used in the process - because the lifespan of this solution is limited, it must be monitored closely to prevent downtime and ensure the process continues to run smoothly, without long breaks.
There are three types of electroless nickel in the plating process: low-phosphorus, medium-phosphorus, and high-phosphorus. Though all of these types offer a high corrosion resistance thanks to nickel's inherent properties, it is high-phosphorus that offers the best resistance. Used in applications requiring protection from extremely corrosive acidic elements, such as oil drilling or coal mining, this type guarantees very little surface porosity.
Nickel-phosphorous coatings are the most common form of electroless nickel platings, used when corrosion resistance, durability and hardness are needed. This could be part of a car (such as the drive shaft). It could be office equipment. It could even be a door knob - though we do not think of door knobs as particularly strong, they are handled multiple times a day, and door knobs and handles require a strong wear resistance and durability that nickel is able to provide.
Though it was only invented under a hundred years ago, electroless nickel plating has quickly become a reliable fixture in electroplating, used in hundreds of industries and applications worldwide. Though we often don’t notice it, it is an everyday fixture in our lives, no matter where we live or what we do.
After the two World Wars, the quickly evolving aviation industry gave rise to great leaps in the development of electroplating, with paving laid for what would eventually become electroless nickel plating. Processes such as a hard chrome, bronze alloy and nickel plating became popular, thanks to their durability and wear resistance.
Electroless nickel plating was invented in the 1940s, as an autocatalytic process triggered by chemicals rather than an electrical charge. Since its invention in 1946, this process has been widely used in industries all over the world.
Brenner wrote his and Riddell's discovery was an accidental one, and they filed a patent for electroless nickel plating in order to protect the United States government's rights to the process. The process was later refined by Gutzeit at General American Transportation Corporation (GATC) during the mid to late fifties.
Electroless nickel plating quickly became a popular process, and remains so today, thanks to not requiring electrical power, or expensive jigs or racks. Its greatest expense was replenishing the chemical solution used in the process - because the lifespan of this solution is limited, it must be monitored closely to prevent downtime and ensure the process continues to run smoothly, without long breaks.
There are three types of electroless nickel in the plating process: low-phosphorus, medium-phosphorus, and high-phosphorus. Though all of these types offer a high corrosion resistance thanks to nickel's inherent properties, it is high-phosphorus that offers the best resistance. Used in applications requiring protection from extremely corrosive acidic elements, such as oil drilling or coal mining, this type guarantees very little surface porosity.
Nickel-phosphorous coatings are the most common form of electroless nickel platings, used when corrosion resistance, durability and hardness are needed. This could be part of a car (such as the drive shaft). It could be office equipment. It could even be a door knob - though we do not think of door knobs as particularly strong, they are handled multiple times a day, and door knobs and handles require a strong wear resistance and durability that nickel is able to provide.
Though it was only invented under a hundred years ago, electroless nickel plating has quickly become a reliable fixture in electroplating, used in hundreds of industries and applications worldwide. Though we often don’t notice it, it is an everyday fixture in our lives, no matter where we live or what we do.
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