Black nickel plating is typically plated on brass, bronze, or steel in order to produce a non-reflective surface.

Advanced Plating Technologies’ black nickel plating services are a RoHS compliant co deposit of tin and nickel in a common plated layer.  As a result, the black nickel properties are a mix of that of nickel plating and tin plating.  The co-deposited tin in the black nickel affords an inherent dry-film lubricity exceeding that of common nickel deposits.  The hardness of the black nickel deposit is consistent with traditional electrolytic nickel deposits.  However, due to its relatively thin deposit thickness of 1um (0.00004 inches), black nickel topcoats can be susceptible to break through in high wear applications.

Advanced Plating Technologies’ black nickel plating provides a highly conductive surface and has excellent “throw” or ability to plate uniformly on complex geometries.    Being a co deposit of tin and nickel, APT’s black nickel services can be directly soldered or brazed to making it an excellent fit for applications within the interconnect or telecommunications markets.  Black nickel can be used where high impassivity is required such as optics, solar panel applications, aerospace and defense systems.

This type of plating is used for decorative purposes and does not offer much protection.