Electroless Nickel PTFE
Electroless Nickel with PTFE Metal Finish
About Electroless Nickel PTFE
EN/PTFE
Electroless Nickel / PTFE is a durable, self-lubricating Nickel / PTFE composite coating that can support a wide range of engineering applications. With a 0.1 coefficient of friction and up to 500 hours salt spray resistance this hard and lubricious coating combines a low coefficient of friction with wear resistance, electrical conductivity and increased protection from corrosion. The coating’s auto-catalytic (electroless) deposit reduces the thickness variations that are associated with electrolytic deposits and creates a uniform coating that is accurately deposited across complex geometries.
With 39 years of experience providing the EN / PTFE plating, Coating Technologies is an industry leader. You can trust your EN / PTFE coating requirements to our highly experienced and qualified staff.
EN / PTFE Process Specifications
- AMS 2454
- GPS 3117-1
- M7019883
- HP4-90
- EMS 52545
- P.S. 10-27
- 70B995447
All Electroless Nickel / PTFE coatings are RoHS compliant.
Why Use Electroless Nickel / PTFE?
Electroless Nickel PTFE is an excellent coating for applications that require good adhesion, high corrosion resistance, and self-lubricating properties. Adding to this is the ability to duplex or combine electroless nickel with electroless nickel/ptfe top coat for added lubricating qualities. The electroless nickel component provides the adhesion and corrosion resistance, and the addition of the PTFE top structure provides the self-lubricating qualities.
The Benefits of Electroless Nickel PTFE:
- Electroless Nickel PTFE plating is extremely corrosion resistant.
- It provides superior adhesion to the substrate
- It can be heat treated to make it harder in certain applications.
- EN / PTFE is excellent at “part rescuing”. A part that does not quite meet minimum tolerances can be built to tolerance using Electroless Nickel.
- EN / PTFE can be plated on a multitude of different substrates. For example: chrome moly, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, high alloy aerospace metals.
- EN / PTFE can be chemically stripped and replaced without any impact on the substrate.
- It has anti-galling properties.
- It is self-lubricating.
- It is easy to maintain and clean.
The Electroless Nickel PTFE Coating is used in applications where parts interface and move against each other thereby eliminating the need for additional lubricants. This gives a cleaner, longer lasting interrelationship between parts, prolonging operation between servicing.
CTL’s history with Electroless Nickel PTFE
EN/PTFE was originally by CTL used as a firearms finish called NP3. CTL began using Electroless Nickel / PTFE in 1986 to coat parts for helicopters, thereby paving the way for our involvement in aerospace, commercial, and firearms industries.
Aerospace Quality Systems
Chemical Processing
Electroless Nickel / PTFE Resources
Products Finishing – Electroless Nickel Duplex Coatings
Products Finishing – How Duplex Electroless Nickel Coatings can be Advantageous
Science Direct – Corrosion protection properties of electroless Nickel/PTFE, Phosphate/MoS2 and Bronze/PTFE coatings applied to improve the wear resistance of carbon steel
Electroless Nickel / PTFE Technical Data
EN / PTFE Deposit Performance Facts
| Composition | Nickel | 80 – 84% by weight |
| Phosphorus | 9 – 11% by weight | |
| PTFE | 7 – 9% by weight (19–25% by volume) |
|
| Density | 6.5 g/cm3 | |
| Hardness | As-Plated | 300-350 HV100 (32-35 RC) |
| Heat Treated@300°C for 4 hrs | 400-450 HV100 (42-46 RC) |
|
| Melting Temperature | Nickel Phosphorus Alloy | 1650°F, 900°C |
| PTFE | 620°F, 325° C | |
| Co-Efficient of Friction | LFW-1, ASTM D-2714 | |
| Wet (white oil) | .07 – 0.10 | |
| Dry | 0.1 – .2 | |
| Wear Resistance | Excellent, Mild Load/Sliding Wear Conditions | |
| Abrasion Resistance | Taber Abrasive Test | CS – 10 Wheel; 1000g load Weight loss, mg/1000 cycles 20 |
| Corrosion Resistance | ASTM B | 117 Salt Spray |
| 0.3 mil | 96 hours | |
| 1.0 mil | 500 hours | |
| Electrical Resistance | Ohms Per Square | 0.06 ohm (0.84 mil deposit) |
History of Electroless Nickel PTFE
The concept of a coating that was very corrosion resistant and self-lubricating came out of a problem related to the North Sea oil rigs.
The transfer from rig to refinery was made through a barge system. The hoses used to transfer the crude oil from rig to barge used stainless steel fittings, which were appropriate for that environment. The tide and wave movement would cause the hoses to be pulled taut then released as the barge rose and fell. This friction on the male-to-female stainless couplings caused galling, making it impossible to uncouple the hoses when the transfer was complete.
A Dutch company was approached to come up with a potential solution. This started the hunt for a self-lubricating and corrosion resistant coating. Early attempts were only marginally successful, which ultimately led to a partnership between the Dutch company and an English company. This combination of researchers led to the successful marriage of Electroless Nickel and PTFE.
Additional Services
- Masking
- Abrasive blasting, sand or glass
- Pre-plate Stress Relief and Hydrogen Embrittlement Baking
- Expediting
- Aluminum Oxide
- Glass Bead