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Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating
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<p><a href="/facts/Electroless_Deposition/KAENbQdF">Electroless</a> nickel-phosphorus plating, also referred to as <i>E-nickel</i>, is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_engineering/Fb64amQf">chemical process</a> that deposits an even layer of <a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a>-<a href="/facts/Phosphorus/27xCeIqs">phosphorus</a> <a href="/facts/Alloy/I7w7WQWR">alloy</a> on the surface of a solid substrate, like <a href="/facts/Metal/PT8hNX6R">metal</a> or <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a>. The process involves dipping the substrate in a water solution containing nickel <a href="/facts/Salt_(chemistry)/lsSKwGpn">salt</a> and a phosphorus-containing <a href="/facts/Reducing_agent/CtfSGVXC">reducing agent</a>, usually a <a href="/facts/Hypophosphite/Je5Gckyh">hypophosphite</a> salt. It is the most common version of electroless nickel plating (EN plating) and is often referred by that name. A <a href="/facts/Electroless_nickel-boron_plating/2KJlGtqg">similar process</a> uses a <a href="/facts/Borohydride/5zFNIPw7">borohydride</a> reducing agent, yielding a nickel-<a href="/facts/Boron/Pmwgd7Mf">boron</a> coating instead. </p><p>Unlike <a href="/facts/Electroplating/HbKf0SBb">electroplating</a>, processes in general do not require passing an <a href="/facts/Electric_current/Dc1xdnUX">electric current</a> through the bath and the substrate; the <a href="/facts/Redox_reaction/Pyd5RVcj">reduction</a> of the metal <a href="/facts/Cation/wrbwhF3z">cations</a> in solution to metallic is achieved by purely chemical means, through an <a href="/facts/Autocatalysis/2eGCpunY">autocatalytic</a> reaction. This creates an even layer of metal regardless of the geometry of the surface – in contrast to electroplating which suffers from uneven <a href="/facts/Electric_current_density/IlUKSe2B">current density</a> due to the effect of substrate shape on the <a href="/facts/Electric_resistance/hxSt0UAj">electric resistance</a> of the bath and therefore on the current distribution within it. Moreover, it can be applied to non-<a href="/facts/Conductive/BSuyupLP">conductive</a> surfaces. </p><p>It has many industrial applications, from merely decorative to the prevention of corrosion and wear. It can be used to apply <a href="/facts/Composite_material/UBysQldh">composite</a> coatings, by <a href="/facts/Suspension_(chemistry)/S3xp96TL">suspending</a> suitable powders in the bath. </p>