Niplate 600 SiC is a composite medium phosphorus (5-9%) electroless nickel plating with silicon carbide grains (SiC) in 20-30% concentration.
Main properties of SiC nickel SiC
Extreme hardness, up to 1100 HV
The ceramic particles of SiC and the hardening treatments performed after nickel plating permit increasing the hardness of the layer up to 1100 HV.
Very high wear resistance
Thanks to the tenacity of the electroless nickel matrix and to the extreme hardness of the ceramic particles of SiC, the
Niplate 600 SiC coating has greater abrasive and adhesive wear resistance than that of hard chrome.
Uniform thickness
Uniform and constant thickness over the entire surface, including holes, ideal for precision mechanical engineering pieces with reduced tolerances.
Applicable on various metals
All the most common alloys used in mechanical engineering can be coated - iron, copper and aluminium alloys.
Immagini
Technical specifications
Composition and applicable standards
| Composition |
| Matrix |
Particles |
| Ni |
P |
SiC 1÷3µm |
| 91÷95% |
5÷9% |
20÷30% vol. |
| Composite coating with medium phosphorus electroless nickel matrix and silicon carbide particles. |
| RoHS Conformity |
|
RoHS conform. No substances with use restrictions beyond max tolerated concentration. |
| REACh Conformity |
|
REACh conform. No SVHC in quantities greater than 0.1% by weight. |
Coatable metals
| Coatable metals |
| Iron alloys |
Pre-treatment |
Adhesion |
Corrosion resistance |
| Carbon steel |
- |
★★★★★ |
★★★☆☆ |
| Stainless steel |
Sandblasting |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★★ |
| Case-hardened steel |
Sandblasting |
★★★★☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
| Nitrided steel |
Sandblasting |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
| Copper alloys |
|
|
|
| Brass, Bronze, Copper |
- |
★★★★★ |
★★★★★ |
| Aluminium alloys |
|
|
|
| Wrought alloys |
- |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆ |
| Foundry and die-casting alloys |
- |
★★★★☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
| Titanium alloys |
|
|
|
| Pure titanium and titanium alloys |
Sandblasting |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★★ |
Coating thickness and aesthetic appearance
| Coating thickness |
| Nominal thickness, optional |
Tolerance |
| 10÷30µm |
±10% (min. ±2µm) |
| Uniform thickness over entire external and internal surface. |
| Absence of point effect typical of galvanic coatings. |
| Aesthetic appearance |
| Smokey grey metal appearance due to the high content of SiC particles. Morphology similar to machined piece. |
| Matt finish option (Sandblasting, shot-peening or shotblasted) |
| On request, possibility of obtaining a electroless-nickel metal appearance option. |
| Matt finish option (Sandblasting, shot-peening or shotblasted). |
In case of hardening treatment, layer discolouring could occur:
• 270-280°C, white colour with possible yellow halos
• 340°C, iridescent blue-red colouring |
Tribological properties
| Hardness |
| Niplate 600 SiC has a very high hardness, a combination of electroless nickel matrix and ultra-hard ceramic particles. This varies according to the hardening heat treatment performed after layer deposition. |
| Hardness value |
Heat treatment |
|
|
700±50HV |
Dehydrogenation 160-180°C x 4 hrs |
|
|
850±50HV |
Hardening 270-280°C x 8 hrs |
|
|
1050±50HV |
Hardening 340°C x 4 hrs |
| Wear resistance |
| Niplate 600 SiC has extreme abrasive and adhesive wear resistance, superior to that of hard chrome, thanks to the high content of ultra-hard silicon carbide particles. |
| Approximate wear value, TWI-CS10 |
Heat treatment |
| A low number indicates a better performance - ASTM B733 X1 - Taber Abraser wear test - abrasive wheels CS 10 - load 1 kg |
|
|
1.0±0.1 mg / 1000 cycles |
Dehydrogenation 160-180°C x 4 hrs |
|
|
0.8±0.1 mg / 1000 cycles |
Hardening 270-280°C x 8 hrs |
|
|
0.6±0.1 mg / 1000 cycles |
Hardening 340°C x 4 hrs |
| Friction coefficient |
| Dynamic dry friction coefficient value |
|
|
0.5 ÷ 0.8 depending on antagonist material |
Chemical properties
| Corrosion resistance |
| The corrosion protection of Niplate 600 SiC, assessed by means of salt mist test, depends on the base material, piece machining and finishing and the thickness of the applied coating. |
| Approximate corrosion resistance values |
Base material |
| NSS according to ISO 9227 - Thickness 20 μm - corroded surface < 5% |
|
|
≥1000 hours |
Brass |
|
|
≥180 hours |
Carbon steel |
|
|
≥240 hours |
Aluminium 6082 |
| Chemical resistance |
|
For application where high chemical resistance is required Niplate 500 is recommended in place of Niplate 600 SiC. Niplate 600 SiC does in any case have good chemical resistance above all in alkaline environments.
|
| Chemical compatibility |
| Approximate values of compatibility with the coating environment only, they do not indicate corrosion protection of the base material. The overall performance of the coated piece depends to a large extent also on the type and quality of the base material. The actual resistance to the environment must in any case be tested in the field. |
|
Hydrocarbons (e.g. petrol, diesel fuel, mineral oil, toluene) |
|
Alcohols, ketones (e.g. ethanol, methanol, acetone) |
|
Neutral saline solutions (e.g. sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, brine) |
|
Diluted reducing acids (e.g. citric acid, oxalic acid) |
|
Oxidizing acids (e.g. nitric acid) |
|
Concentrated acids (e.g. sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid) |
|
Diluted bases (e.g. diluted sodium hydroxide) |
|
Oxidizing bases (e.g. sodium hypochlorite) |
|
Concentrated bases (e.g. concentrated sodium hydroxide) |
Physical properties
| Weldability |
|
Easily braze weldable using RMA, RA acid flow agents |
| Ferromagnetism |
| Presence of ferromagnetism |
Heat treatment |
|
|
Ferromagnetic |
Dehydrogenation 160-180°C x 4 hrs |
|
|
Ferromagnetic |
Hardening 270-280°C x 8 hrs |
|
|
Ferromagnetic |
Hardening 340°C x 4 hrs |
| Melting point, solidus |
| 870°C |
Production facility
