The "Metallic Glass"

The amorphous structure of high phosphorus electroless nickel (EN) coatings, also known as metallic glass, is responsible for some unique properties: Neither grain boundaries, crystallites nor other surface defects are visible under a standard optical microscope. The absence of a well-defined crystalline structure reduces the risk of intergranular corrosion, thus providing a more effective barrier to corrosive attacks.

Atotech’s Nichem family extends across the full range of low, medium and high phosphorus deposits, producing high quality nickel-phosphorus alloy coatings containing 2 - 14% phosphorus by weight. For exceptional corrosion resistance we recommend our high phosphorus and for very high hardness our low phosphorus Nichem processes.

Nichem Product Range for Electroless Nickel Plating

	Phosphorus Content	Operating Temp.	pH	Plating Rate (µm/h)	Appearance	Ammoniated/ Ammonia-free	Properties
High Phosphorus
Nichem 5100	10 - 12%	85 - 89 °C	4.6 - 5.1	8 - 12	Semi-bright	Both	Also suited for plating on Al
Nichem 5410	10 - 12%	85 - 89 °C	4.6 - 5.1	8 - 12	Semi-bright	Both	Suitable for low loading factor
Nichem PF 500	10 - 12%	82 - 91 °C	4.6 - 5.0	8 - 12	Semi-bright	Both	Good for high thickness applications
Mid to Medium Phosphorus
Nichem 3010	8 - 10%	85 - 90 °C	4.5 - 5.0	10 - 15	Semi-bright	Ammonia-free	Longer bath life
Nichem 3300	8 - 10%	85 - 93 °C	4.6 - 5.1	12 - 15	Semi-bright	Ammonia-free	Passes the nitric acid test
Medium Phosphorus
Nichem 2100	7 - 9%	82 - 91 °C	4.6 - 5.0	15 - 22	Bright	Both
Nichem 2500	5 - 7%	82 - 91 °C	4.6 - 5.0	15 - 22	Bright	Ammoniated	Also suited for plating on Al
Nichem 2505	5 - 7%	85 - 91 °C	4.7 - 5.0	15 - 22	Very bright	Both	Also suited for plating on Al
Nichem 2700	7 - 9%	85 - 91 °C	4.7 - 5.0	15 - 20	Semi-bright	Ammonia-free	Also suited for plating on Al
Nichem 2800	7 - 9%	85 - 91 °C	4.7 - 5.0	15 - 20	Bright	Ammonia-free	Also suited for plating on Al
Nichem CS	6 - 9%	82 - 93 °C	4.6 - 4.9	15 - 22	Semi-bright	Ammoniated	Aerospace approved
Low Phosphorus
Nichem 6200	1 - 3%	82 - 91 °C	6.5 - 7.5	12 - 22	Semi-bright/matt	Ammoniated
Nichem 1100	3 - 5%	29 - 35 °C	9.0 - 9.5	2 - 3	Matt	Ammoniated	Strike for aluminium

High phosphorus deposits in general show a hardness as plated of 450 - 550 HV, medium phosphorus deposits 550 - 650 HV and low phosphorus deposits 650 - 700 HV (acc. to Vickers, load 50 to 100 g at 30 µm).