Nickel-phosphorus electrodeposits

Summary

Nickel-phosphorus deposits produced chemically from solutions containing nickel salts and sodium hypophosphite are used extensively because they are normally uniform in thickness, but also because they have special properties such as high hardness, excellent corrosion resistance, low temperature brazing and magnetic properties which can all be controlled. Their use is, however, restricted by the difficulties in operating electroless nickel processes. Nickel-phosphorus deposits can now be produced electrolytically and this paper compares the properties of deposits and solutions with those of electroless processes.