Palladium-Nickel Electroplating
About Palladium-Nickel Electroplating
Palladium-Nickel Electroplating Services
Palladium-nickel (Pd-Ni) electroplating combines the strengths of palladium and nickel to create a durable, cost-effective coating that outperforms either metal alone in many applications. Titan Plating offers specialised palladium-nickel electroplating services, delivering high-quality coatings with a focus on fast turnaround to meet your project deadlines. This alloy is ideal for industries requiring robust, corrosion-resistant finishes, such as electronics and automotive.
Palladium-Nickel Electroplating Methods
Titan Plating employs advanced electroplating techniques to accommodate different component types and production volumes:
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Barrel Electroplating: Ideal for high-volume plating of small, durable parts like connectors or fasteners, this method uses rotation in an electrolyte bath to ensure uniform palladium-nickel coatings, offering efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
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Rack Electroplating: Suitable for larger or delicate components, rack electroplating secures parts for immersion, providing precise control over coating thickness and quality, perfect for intricate or high-specification designs.
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Selective Electroplating: Uses a specialised brush and electrolyte solution to plate specific areas, such as electrical contacts, ideal for low-volume or targeted applications.
Each method involves dissolving palladium-nickel ions in an electrolyte solution, with an electric current driving the deposition to form a strong, adherent coating. Our fast-turnaround process ensures timely delivery without compromising quality.
About Palladium-Nickel Electroplating
Palladium-nickel is an alloy containing 70-95% palladium and 5-30% nickel, offering enhanced durability and corrosion resistance compared to palladium alone. The addition of nickel increases hardness (300-650 on the Knoop scale, compared to palladium’s 75-600) and improves resistance to stress and cracking, making it suitable for high-wear applications. The alloy’s density (10-11.5 g/cm³) is lower than gold’s (17.0-19.3 g/cm³), allowing thicker coatings without increasing weight.
Titan Plating’s palladium-nickel electroplating process begins with thorough substrate preparation, including cleaning and pre-treatment to ensure optimal adhesion. A nickel underplate may be applied to create a barrier between copper bases and the alloy coating, while a gold overplate can enhance conductivity or solderability for specific applications. Our ISO-certified processes ensure precision and reliability, with a focus on fast turnaround.
Benefits of Palladium-Nickel Electroplating
Palladium-nickel electroplating provides several advantages:
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Corrosion Resistance: Comparable to gold, palladium-nickel resists oxidation and environmental degradation, ensuring long-lasting components.
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Durability: The alloy’s high hardness makes it ideal for high-wear applications, outperforming palladium or gold alone.
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Heat Resistance: Withstands temperatures of 300-350°C without flaking, peeling, or blistering, suitable for high-heat environments.
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Lightweight: Lower density allows thicker coatings without adding significant weight, ideal for electronics and jewellery.
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Cost Efficiency: Offers gold-like performance at a lower cost, especially when alloyed to reduce palladium content.
Drawbacks of Palladium-Nickel Electroplating
Palladium-nickel has some limitations:
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Fretting Wear: The alloy’s higher coefficient of friction can cause wear in mated parts that move against each other, requiring one surface to be coated with gold.
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Solderability and Conductivity: Palladium-nickel is less solderable than gold and may require a gold overplate for electrical contacts or soldering points.
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Pore Corrosion: Moisture can leach through pores to the base metal, causing corrosion, which can be mitigated with a nickel underplate.
Applications of Palladium-Nickel Electroplating
Titan Plating provides palladium-nickel electroplating for various industries:
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Electronics: Coats connectors, contacts, and semiconductors, often with a gold overplate, to ensure reliable conductivity and durability.
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Automotive: Used in components requiring corrosion resistance and heat tolerance, such as sensors or connectors.
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Biomedical: Provides a durable, corrosion-resistant coating for medical devices and dental applications, leveraging its non-toxic properties.
Titan Plating’s Palladium-Nickel Electroplating Expertise
Titan Plating delivers industry-leading palladium-nickel electroplating services, specialising in high-quality coatings applied through barrel, rack, and selective methods. Our processes ensure precision, durability, and fast turnaround, catering to electronics, automotive, and biomedical applications. We tailor alloy compositions and coating thicknesses to meet your needs, supporting projects from prototyping to high-volume production with consistent, high-quality results.
Get in touch with Titan Plating
Whether you need expert advice or a custom quote, our team is here to help. Reach out today to discuss your project.
Marlborough House, The Courtyard,
Hartley Wintney, Hook RG27 8NY