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Variations in the look of electroless nickel plating on composite

2007

Hi, I don't know if you guys answer questions about composite materials or not. I am designing an aerospace camera that must use 38999 class M connectors. The specification is fairly broad, saying the connectors must be made of a high performance resin and electroless nickel plated. My problem is I have had two different suppliers provide significantly different looking finishes. One finish is a dull gray, while the other is very shiny, bright silver.

I have read on this site about similar results based on the amount of phosphorus in the mix? I was also thinking if one part had an underplating it would make a difference. I don't know much about this yet, I just wanted to know if anyone had experience plating on composite materials rather than metal and knows if either of these finishes have different environmental properties. I am also trying to get information from the different suppliers.

Thanks for any comments,

Jon Boer
mechanical design engineer - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Joe, You may want to check and see if one of the vendors is using brighteners in the bath.

Casey Weizel, President
Foresight Finishing LLC

- Tempe, Arizona

2007

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My guess would be the pretreatment is totally different and the matte appearing EN plater is using a heavier abrasive blast to prep the resin for activation.

Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Syracuse, New York
2007

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2007

I agree with the other contributors.
But you should also consider that Electroless nickel is not pure nickel. Mostly it is a nickel/phosphorus alloy. There are three 'standard' types; low, medium and high phosphorus. There are also less common types containing boron etc.
Even if you specify the type, there are always likely to be minor differences between baths.
Why not stick to one supplier?

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England