Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: MacDermid | Subject: Niklad ELV electroless nickels
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 10 August 2006
Electroless nickels cut out lead and
cadmium
Niklad ELV electroless nickels are free from lead and cadmium giving full compliance with the ELV, RoHs and WEEE directives.
Since commercialisation in the early 1950s electroless nickel formulations have traditionally utilised small amounts of lead and cadmium salts as stabilisers and brightening components These codeposit as metals within the nickel phosphorus alloy in parts per million concentrations and up until the introduction of the EOLVD, have not been a problem
Most standard commercialised electroless nickel baths available today still contain lead and cadmium.
Typically, high phosphorus EN deposits containing 10-13 % phosphorus typically contain 250-350ppm of lead (0.025-0.035%) but would normally not contain cadmium.
Medium phosphorus deposits containing 6-9 % phosphorus typically contain 500-650ppm of lead (0.05-0.065%) and 1000-1200ppm of cadmium (0.1-0.12%).
Niklad ELV additives and the resulting coatings do not contain any elements restricted by RoHS, WEEE and ELV directives.
Niklad ELV deposits being lead and cadmium free are ideal for recycling, and so automotive and electronics manufacturers can be sure that they are complying with current legislation.
Electroless nickel deposits are often chosen as engineering finishes as they provide properties that cannot be found in the underlying base material.
The hardness values of the new and conventional deposits are essentially identical and fall within the ranges expected for the particular deposit phosphorus contents.
That is between 450 and 1000 HK100 depending on the phosphorus content and post plate treatment.
Electroless nickel coatings are very wear resistant due to the high hardness of the deposits, Niklad ELV are also similar to conventional systems as the wear is dependant on the phosphorus content and deposit thickness.
The neutral salt spray resistance between conventional and lead- and cadmium-free deposits is also identical.
The NSS resistance depends on the phosphorus content and thickness of the deposit rather than whether a deposit contains lead or cadmium, and can range from 24 to greater than 1000h.
One advantage with the lead- and cadmium-free systems may be better corrosion protection.
Lead and cadmium can and do cause edge pullback and skip plating that can result in corrosion failure.
Many of the new lead- and cadmium-free systems have the same basic formulation backbones as the conventional systems, the only differences being the types of stabilisers and additives.
As such, the phosphorus contents are comparable and behave similarly over a bath's life.
MacDermid has produced a full range of ELV electroless nickel chemistry covering all the standard levels of phosphorus and so meeting the requirements of engineers to provide a deposit that gives the required properties such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance or high hardness.
Niklad ELV 811 high phosphorous electroless nickel deposits offer maximum corrosion resistance and protection.
Deposits contain between 10 and 13% phosphorous and meet the specification requirements of ISO4527, ASTM B-733 Type V and AMS 2404.
The processes are well suited for high build applications giving a smooth, pore and pit-free finish.
Niklad ELV 809 medium phosphorous electroless nickel deposits contain 6 to 9% phosphorous.
Medium phosphorus deposits are the most widely used type providing good corrosion protection with superior wear and hardness properties that satisfies a broad range of engineering requirements.
Niklad ELV 805 low/medium phosphorus electroless nickel contains 4-6% phosphorus in the deposit offering maximum hardness and wear resistance. Request a free brochure from MacDermid ...
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