Nickel plating - surface treatment of products by applying a nickel coating to them. The thickness of the applied coating is usually from 1 to 50 microns.
As a rule, metal products made of steel or other metals and alloys , in particular copper , zinc , aluminum , less often manganese , titanium , tungsten or molybdenum , are nickel-plated. In addition, there are methods of nickel plating non-metallic surfaces - polymer , ceramic , glass , etc. Products are nickel-plated in order to protect or give a characteristic appearance to the treated surface. Nickel plating protects products from corrosion in the atmosphere, solutions of alkalis and salts, as well as weak organic acids . The most common are electrolytic (galvanic) and chemical nickel plating.
History
Nickel sulfate has been known since 1840. However, it is not suitable for nickel plating. The first successful electrolyte was found in 1916; it is a mixture of nickel sulfate, nickel chloride and boric acid .
Legal Regulation
In EU countries, the processes used in processing are regulated by directives 2000/53 / EC and 2002/95 / EC .