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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Salt spray test for electroless nickel
Q. I have a question about the salt spray testing standards of electroless nickel. How many hours does the product have to withstand to pass? to be acceptable? The test I'm researching is ASTM B117. Or does anyone know where I can find these standards?
Any information with be much appreciated. Thank you.
Ed. note: We've hotlinked your spec number to a source for you, K.
A. The hours required to pass this test is usually established by the customer and application. I have seen requirements range from 24 to 2000 hours. ASTM B733 is one of a number of specs that reference B117 but do not provide quantitative requirements. Guidelines on the type of EN and thickness are provided.
Hope this helps. Matt
- Oriskany, New York
1996
FYI Prior to being canceled and replaced by various AMS and ASTM specifications, MIL-C-26074 [on DLA] Rev. E ("Military Specification, Coatings, Electroless Nickel, Requirements For") required that electroless nickel coatings applied .001 inches minimum thickness to aluminum alloys, or .0015 inches minimum thickness to iron alloys, show no visual evidence of corrosion of the basis metal when tested for 100 hours in a salt spray environment controlled per ASTM B117.
Blair Smithaerospace - Windsor Locks, Connecticut
1996
A. It depends on type of EN. The high phosphor will hold 1000 hours if parts are flat, at least 25 microns and not heated after plating. Medium phosphorous is about 100 hours and low P (3-5%) has poor salt spray ability but has very good wear resistance. Sara
Sara Michaeli
Tel-Aviv-Yafo, Israel
1996
Salt spray test capacity of Electroless Nickel Plating of 10-20 microns
Q. We are using the Electroless nickel coating of 10-20 microns thickness for an automotive part. As per our customer standard, it should withstand 192 hours of Salt Spray Testing. But the parts failing within 50-75 hrs of salt spray testing.
Can anyone suggest:
1. how much SST hours, a normal 10~20 microns of electroless nickel coating can withstand?
2. how to achieve 192 hours of salt spray test requirement with 10~20 micron thick coating?
- Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
February 1, 2017
A. You may want to check this study on the performance of electroless nickel vs stainless steel spray salt test,
https://www.pfonline.com/articles/electroless-nickel-plated-steel-versus-stainless-steel-case-studies
Quote from the article "One rifle barrel, bolt and bolt plug were fabricated from 1155 steel and plated with a duplex electroless nickel coating of 0.0003 in. of mid-phosphorus EN under 0.0002 in. of high phosphorus EN, for a total thickness of 0.0005 in."
- Managua, Nicaragua
February 2, 2017
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