BLACK ELECTROLESS NICKEL PLATING –
TACTI-BLACK® ELECTROLESS NICKEL
Black electroless nickel plating combines the same exceptional deposit properties of traditional electroless nickel plating but with a darker appearance. Advanced Plating Technologies offers a proprietary process – Tacti-black® electroless nickel – which combines the exceptional lubricity, deposit uniformity, hardness and corrosion resistance of electroless nickel with a uniform black appearance that remains fully conductive. These properties make Tacti-black an excellent fit for electronic and interconnect components where conductivity is an important design consideration.
Most traditional black electroless nickels are produced by plating a standard electroless nickel deposit and subsequently oxidizing the surface to produce a thin nickel oxide film. This produces a finish that is not conductive and can have significant variability in color and luster from batch to batch. In addition, the oxidized surface, although black, degrades many of the properties of the electroless nickel since it is no longer a pure nickel/phosphorous alloy but rather an oxide. Tacti-black remains fully conductive since black appearance is formed with an alternative process that does not degrade the conductivity or lubricity of the surface.
Advanced Plating Technology now offers a high performance Tacti-Black® HP+ electroless nickel that offers a darker appearance with enhanced corrosion resistance and dry film lubricity. APT’s black electroless nickel plating is utilized in a wide range of industries including the firearm, defense, interconnect, telecommunications and aerospace industries.
ISO 13485:2016
ITAR Compliant
ISO 9001:2015
Federal Firearms License
ISO 13485:2016
ITAR Compliant
ISO 9001:2015
Federal Firearms License
SELECT ONE TO LEARN MORE
Electroless Nickel Phosphorus Content
Tacti-Black ® Firearms Finishes
Electroless vs Electrolytic Nickel Plating
Benefits of Tacti-Black ®
|
Tacti-Black Electroless Nickel |
NIGRUM NICCOLUM SINE ELECTRICITATE |
| Atomic Number – Qty Protons: | 28 – 50 – 15 | Thermal Conductivity – W/(cm*K): | 0.042-0.067 |
| Atomic Weight – g/mole: | 58.69 – 118.7 – 30.97 | Electrical Resistivity – nOhm*m: | 70 – 1100 |
| Density – g/cm3: | 7.6 – 8.8 | Hardness: | 52-70 Rc |
| Melting Point – C°: | 890 – 1300 c | Specific Heat Capacity – J/(g*K): | N/A |
Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel Properties
APT’s Tacti-Black® black electroless nickel is fully conductive and can be soldered or brazed to make it suitable for interconnect, electronics and EMI grounding/shielding applications. It provides good temperature stability suitable for service temperatures up to 600F with short duration exposures up to 700F. It provides the perfect deposit uniformity of traditional electroless nickel with typical tolerances of +/- 0.0001 inches per side. The process is plated “cold” at temperatures below 200F and as such will not affect the hardness of the base material.
Advanced Plating Technologies’ black electroless nickel plating is available in both medium and high phosphorus varieties. The level of phosphorus in the coating affects the deposit properties similar to traditional electroless nickel deposits. In addition, post-plate baking can transition the deposit from an amorphous to crystalline structure, which increases the deposit hardness. The typical hardness of the deposit ranges between low 50s Rc as plated and can be heat treated to hardness near 70 Rc. The blacking process results in a lubricous, wear- resistant topcoat this is approximately 1-2um thick. This layer is durable for most applications but in some aggressive metal-on-metal wear cases can wear through to underlying electroless nickel deposit. Therefore, the application of the finish for high wear applications should be evaluated accordingly.
Tacti-Black Electroless Nickel
NICCOLUM SINE ELECTRICITATE
| Atomic Number – Qty Protons: | 28 – 50 – 15 | Thermal Conductivity – W/(cm*K): | 0.042-0.067 |
| Atomic Weight – g/mole: | 58.69 – 118.7 – 30.97 | Electrical Resistivity – nOhm*m: | 70 – 1100 |
| Density – g/cm3: | 7.6 – 8.8 | Hardness: | 52-70 Rc |
| Melting Point – C°: | 890 – 1300 c | Specific Heat Capacity – J/(g*K): | N/A |
Tacti-Black Electroless Nickel
NICCOLUM SINE ELECTRICITATE
Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black® Appearance
The appearance of the black electroless nickel plating process is a function of the luster of the substrate and the selection of the process. The guidelines below will help with the proper selection and process:
- Bright, Deep Black Appearance: A highly machined or polished substrate with Medium Phosphorous Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel.
- Satin, Charcoal Gray Appearance: A rough, textured or bead blasted substrate with High or Medium Phosphorous Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel.
- Satin to Matte, Black Appearance: A rough, textured or bead blasted substrate with high or medium phosphorous Tacti-Black® HP+ Electroless Nickel. Finish is not recommended for soldering or bonding applications.
Advanced Plating Technologies’ Tacti-black black electroless nickel plating provides excellent wear resistance consistent with traditional electroless nickel. However, the black appearance can be worn through in aggressive wear points such as metal-on-metal sliding contact. Therefore, the application of the finish for high wear applications should be evaluated accordingly.
Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black® Appearance
The appearance of the black electroless nickel plating process is a function of the luster of the substrate and the selection of the process. The guidelines below will help with the proper selection and process:
- Bright, Deep Black Appearance: A highly machined or polished substrate with Medium Phosphorous Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel.
- Satin, Charcoal Gray Appearance: A rough, textured or bead blasted substrate with High or Medium Phosphorous Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel.
- Satin to Matte, Black Appearance: A rough, textured or bead blasted substrate with high or medium phosphorous Tacti-Black® HP+ Electroless Nickel. Finish is not recommended for soldering or bonding applications.
Advanced Plating Technologies’ Tacti-black black electroless nickel plating provides excellent wear resistance consistent with traditional electroless nickel. However, the black appearance can be worn through in aggressive wear points such as metal-on-metal sliding contact. Therefore, the application of the finish for high wear applications should be evaluated accordingly.
Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel Properties
Advanced Plating Technologies’ black electroless nickel plating is available in both medium and high phosphorus varieties. The level of phosphorus in the coating affects the deposit appearance and properties similar to traditional electroless nickel deposits. In addition, post-plate baking can transition the deposit from an amorphous to crystalline structure, which greatly increases the deposit hardness.
APT’s Black electroless nickel plating process produces a deposit that is fully conductive and can be soldered or brazed to make it suitable for interconnect, electronics and EMI grounding/shielding applications. It provides good temperature stability suitable for service temperatures up to 600F with short duration exposures up to 700F. It provides the perfect deposit uniformity of traditional electroless nickel with tolerances of +/- 0.0001 inches per side possible.
A brief summary of the deposit properties for APT’s black electroless nickel plating is provided below:
- Black Electroless Nickel Plating, Tacti-Black® High Phosphorus (>10% P): Semi-bright in luster, solderable with proper flux selection, non-magnetic, amorphous deposit structure, highly corrosion resistance with adequate deposit thickness, low as-plated stress, excellent choice for heavy build, Rc 48-55 (as plated), 66-70 (with heat treatment)
- Black Electroless Nickel Plating, Tacti-Black® Medium Phosphorus (6-9%P): Bright in luster, solderable with proper flux selection, magnetic, semi-crystalline deposit structure, good corrosion resistance with adequate deposit thickness, moderate as-plated stress, not recommended for heavy build, Rc 58-62 (as plated), 66-70 (with heat treatment)
- Black Electroless Nickel Plating, Tacti-Black® HP+: A proprietary black electroless nickel plating in which a rare earth metal molecular sealer is bonded to the surface which enhances the depth of the black and reduces the luster (brightness) of the finish. With a micro-rough or blasted surface, a nearly matte-black appearance can be achieved. Tacti-Black® HP+ electroless nickel will have improved dry-film lubricity and corrosion resistance but will have increased contact resistance and is not recommended for soldering or bonding applications.
Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black® Electroless Nickel Capabilities
Specifications
MIL-C-26074
ASTM B733
AMS 2404
ISO 4527
Most Company Specifications
Finish Type
Medium Phosphorous
High Phosphorous
Part Size Limitations
28 Inches x 28 Inches x 10 Inches
Larger pieces may be accommodated in certain instances
Substrates Plated On
Ferrous: All Ferrous Alloys Including Mild Steel, Stainless Steels, Hardened Steels & Tool Steels
Cuprous: All Cuprous Alloys Including Pure Copper, Copper Alloys Including Tellurium & Beryllium, Brass, Nickel-Silver
Aluminum: All Aluminum Alloys Including Wrought, Cast and Proprietary Alloys (MIC-6)
Exotics: Inconel, Pure Nickel (Nickel 200), Cobalt-Chrome (MP35N), Kovar, Monel, Hastalloy, Monel, Lead
Underplates Provided
Copper
Electrolytic Nickel
Heat Treatments
Stress Relief Bakes
Hydgen Embrittlement Relief Bakes
High Temperature/Hardness Bakes up to 750F
Methods
Barrel
Rack
Wire
Vibratory
Selective Loose Piece Plating
Sheet Product (Chemically Milled/Etched Sheets)
Segmented Strips (Frets)