Zinc-nickel

Zinc-nickel is the first choice when maximum corrosion resistance and high load capacity are essential. The alloy performs significantly better than plain zinc – even with long service life, high temperatures and mechanical stress.

With 12–15 % nickel, the coatings achieve very good results in salt spray testing. Zinc-nickel is widely used for connectors and fasteners, where a uniform, conductive and corrosion-resistant surface is crucial.

Zinc-nickel extends the service life of your components and reduces maintenance intervals – even where conventional coatings reach their limits.

Passivation

After plating, the surface is passivated. The passivation stabilises the coating, improves corrosion protection and defines the appearance.

Passivation	Appearance	Use
Black	matt, dark	low-visibility finish with high robustness
Thick-film	colour-neutral to slightly iridescent	strongest corrosion protection, safety-relevant parts
Blue	slightly bluish	economical standard for fasteners

Special passivations on request.

Post-treatment and sealing

A cobalt-containing post-dip chemically densifies the surface and further increases corrosion resistance. A sealant can then be applied as a thin film over the passivation. It improves grip, reduces friction and adds further resistance.

Technical data

Property	Value
Thickness	minimum 5 µm, standard 10–15 µm
Alloy	12–15 % nickel (can change with certain passivations)
Method	rack, soft drum on request
Max. part size	1000 × 725 × 300 mm (rack window)

On complex geometries, the thickness on outer surfaces can differ significantly from inner surfaces. On aluminium, the electroless nickel intermediate layer is added.

Applications

Automotive, mechanical and plant engineering, electrical engineering and fastening technology. Typical parts: screws, nuts, springs, housing parts, hydraulic components, and contacts and connectors.

Zinc-nickel on aluminium

Aluminium is inherently difficult to electroplate. We therefore pre-treat the surface chemically and apply a layer of electroless nickel. It provides adhesion and conductivity before the zinc-nickel is deposited.

The result combines the low weight of aluminium with the robustness of zinc-nickel – much in demand for connectors, including in harsh environments and in contact with other metals.

Base materials

• Non-ferrous metals
• Alloyed and unalloyed steels
• Aluminium (with electroless nickel intermediate layer)