ElectrolyticNickel-Phosphorus Plating “Electrolytic …

1 electrolytic Nickel PhosphorusElectrolyticNickel-PhosphorusP lating electrolytic Nickel- phosphorus Plating Richard DePoto & Weber Umicore GalvanotechnikKlaus Leydecker Umicore GalvanotechnikUmicore ElectroplatingJune 2014 NIPHOS E-Plated Nickel Phos: Characteristics E-Plated Nickel Phos: Advantages Reasons for Interest E-Plated Nickel Phos: Electrolyte Specifications E-Plated Nickel Phos: Layer Properties E-Plated Nickel: Applications / Markets SummaryFutureOutlookDiscussion E-Plated Niphos Electroplated Alloy compositionNickel 88 -94 % phosphorus 6 -12 %Diamagnetic (P > 11 %)Hardness550 -600 HV, without heat treatmentAbrasion2 mg/1000 strokes (Bosch-Weinmann)Ductility and ColorSame as bright nickelCorrosion resistance Very good Excellent Coating Characteristics Highly Competitive Processing Cost -bath is simple to maintain, lasts along time and has noheavy metals Robust Electrolyte -wide processing window, tolerence to metalcontamination Fast processing speed -including Connector and reel to reelapplications Corrosion Properties -superior to Bright Nickel and Equal to ElectrolessNickel Ultimate corrosion and diffusion barrier layer -( AuCo , Ag,gradient % P layers and numerous electronic applications) Diamagneticproperties -will expand use in High Frequency Applications Ideally Suited to Improve the Current Chromiumplating Process ofRecord ( POR)Advantages of E- Plated Nickel phosphorus E-Plated Nickel Phos.

2 Advantages / Considerations Why Interest over ElectrolessNickel ? Difficult to maintain Higher Cost: for operation and make-up Low MTO, freq dumps Slower Plating time Heavy metals, halogenates Requires tank passivation Higher operating temperatures Susceptible to metal contamination Excellent throwing power all E-plated Nickel baths Fixed Phoscontent high or low Easy to insol/ soluableanodes Lower Cost: operation and make-up Lasts a long time, stable bath Velocity ..fast Plating time, reel to reel No heavy metals, halogenatesor sulphur No plate out or tank passivationreq Lower operating temperatures Wide window for metal contamination Improved throwing power Gradient Layers by adjusting Phoscontent toachieve enhanced performance in the same bath Electroless Nickel electrolytic Nickel phosphorus NIPHOS -E-Plated Nickel PhosBasicElectrolyte Solution NIPHOS -Electrolyte Nickel 80 g/l (70-90 g/l)Phosphorus25 g/l (20-30 CCurrent A/dm A/dm BarrelPlating um/minSoluble or insoluble (Pt/Ti) anodes can be usedRack or Barrel both Plating options are available CharacteristicspH -Dependancy on P content in the Layer (Rack, 4 A/dm ))

3 Electrolyte Plating Characteristics 051015201,522,533,5pH-valuec(P) [%]00,10,20,30,40,5 Plating speed [ m/min]working rangeStandard Connectors Thickness Distribution in mConnector usedWhite BronzeNickel-PhosphorusBright NickelBright Tin Gold on NiP 3,132,882,762,562,602,913,123,415,823,92 2,742,762,863,214,056,425,263,342,071,52 1,521,482,729,753,643,061,942,521,852,28 2,814,060,240,230,210,210,200,210,220,20 Thickness Distribution / Throwing PowerElectrolyteTolerance to ImpuritiesElectrolyteTypeTolerance toImpurities Nickel-PhosphorusZn and Cu up to 200 mg/lBright Nickel Zn und Cu up to 50 -100 mg/lElectroless Nickel Zn und Cu up to 25 -50 mg/l2X -4X Improvement NIPHOS Deposit Layer PropertiesNIPHOS -Layer Properties phosphorus content: 11 13%Hardness: appr. 550 HV Heat Treat to 1300 HVCorrosion and Wear Resistance Excellent Color:Stainless Steel like appearance LevelingPower.

4 Retains Brightness Base Characteristics E-Plated NiP Hardness of Different Coatings60060057055055040030017010010050 500100200300400500600 Bright nickelPdNi 20 NIPHOS Electroless nickelBronce whiteBronce yellowMatt nickelBrassSilverCopperTinTinZincHV Comparison Wear -Bosch-WeinmannEmery paper (Swiss standard 6/0), 300 g weight22,53466,278,510141605101520 NiPPdNi 20 NickelBronce yellowTinSn/ZnBronce whiteFine goldBrassGold-cobaltSilvermg/1,000 strokesSuperior Wear Resistance Amorphous NiPmorphologyContact Resistance SubstrateBrass Layer thickness2 m NiP Exposure testing125 C for 250 h, 500 h Test tipPlatinum Test forceSee diagram Limit for practical use < 10 mOhm at 200 cN for non-ferrous metals NiP / AuCo suitable as contact material!05101520253035400100200 Contact force [cN]Contact resistance [mOhm]0 h250 h500 h2 m NiP with m AuCoSolderability /Welding SolderabilityExposure testing: 16 hours at 155 CFlux: Type 2542, Alpha-MetalsSolder: SnPb (60/40), 230 CZCT (Zero Crossing Time in (sec) s (NiP) s (NiP + AuCo) Results NIPHOS very good Bright Nickel poor, due to high carbon content of the layersResultsWeldingCorrosion ResistanceLayer thickness NiP 2 -3 m, substrate.)

5 BrassSalt Spray Test (DIN 50021, 120 h) No corrosive attack Iridescent discoloration of the surfaceKesternich Test (DIN 50018, 5 cycles) No attack Discoloration of the surfacePollution Gas Test (EN 60068-2-60, method 4, 10 days) Minimal attack on the layer Loss of brightnessRapid T Change (IEC 68-2-14, -30 C/125 C, 1 h each, 10 cycles) No visible changesSalt Spray Test (DIN 50021, 120 h)"Standard connectors"The connectors were exposure-tested in inserted form and individuallyTop 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 Bottom 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 m AURUNA 526 Kesternich Test (DIN 50018, 5 cycles)"Standard connectors"The connectors were exposure-tested in inserted form and individuallyTop 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 Bottom 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 m AURUNA 526 Pollution Gas Test (EN 60068-2-60, method 4, 10 days) "Standard connectors"The connectors were exposure-tested in inserted form and individuallyTop 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 Bottom 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 m AURUNA 526 Rapid Temperature Change (IEC 68-2-14, -30 C/125 C, 1 h each, 10 cycles)

6 "Standard connectors"The connectors were exposure-tested in inserted form and individuallyTop 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 Bottom 2 -3 m NIPHOS 966 m AURUNA 526 Contact / ConnectorSystem Applications 1,5 m1,0 m1,5 m0,7 m0,1 m1,0 m0,5 m0,1 mNi + AuCoNi + PdNi + AuCoNi + NiP + AuCoAu-CoNi-PPd-NiNiBasematerial CuSn6 Previous Reduced Gold thickness Replace Palladium Nickel Reduce Nickel Thickness Benefits Improved Summary / Comparison of different layer sequences forConnectors Gold Very expensivePalladium or Palladium-Nickel / Goldflash(Gold acts as a type of lubricant) Great variation of the Palladium-price Often smell of ammonia Extremely sensitive to cyanide Brown powder effectNickel- phosphorus / Goldflash Inexpensive Easy to maintain No ammonia odorElectroplatedNickel Phosporus Applications Improved corrosion resistant and diffusion layer under e.

7 G. Gold Chromium (Cr3+ or Cr 6+) Palladium / Nickel Ruthenium Substitution and Elimination of electrolytic nickel (completely or partly)especially Marine and Sea climate applications Substitution of electroless nickel (if parts are "simple") especially hydraulics Lead-frames /Connectors (with AuCo as final layer) Solar-cell carriers (corrosion resistance)Zirconium -PVDNIPHOS 966 Stainless Steel Finish after 6 Month Field TestShock Absorber & Piston Rod ApplicationsOld demand: 120 h Salt Spray Plated with 20 30 m CrNew demand: 480 h Salt Spray 10 20 m NiP + 20 30 m Cr or 10 20 m NiP + 5 m Cr or 10 20 m NiPPlating on Plastics In the POPfield, NIPHOS is used in the sequence:ABS / Cu or Ni / Ni (bright or matt + bright) / NiP / CrThe NIPHOS -layer replaces strange combinations of up to 4 different Nickel-layers.

8 The advantage is, that NIPHOS dramatically improves the corrosion resistance of the whole system; this is important in automotive applications, when the CASS-test has to be passed. In traditional Systems, Cr was plated on top of bright Nickel. Cracks in the Cr-layer caused localized corrosion and attack of the Ni-layer. The use of NiP before Cr- Plating will stop 5 cycleskesternichtestNIPHOS under Chromiumtriple nickel / chromium double nickel / NIPHOS / chromiumCASS Testing for Chrome Cr20 m, 6 hCr35 m, 6 hNi10 m + Cr10 m, 72 hEN 10 m + Cr10 m, 240 hNiphos10 m + Cr10 m, 240 hNiphos20 m, 168 hNiphosheattreated20 m, 48 hSummary of Corrosion and Aging Tests NSSCASSC orrodkoteChromium(20 m)1661 Chromium(35 m)2461 Nickel (10 m) + Chromium(10 m)> 336722 ElectrolessNi(10 m) + Chromium(10 m)> 336slightlyafter 96 h10 ElectrolyticNiP(10 m) + Chromium(10 m)> 336slightlyafter 168 h10 ElectrolyticNiP(20 m)> 336slightlyafter 168 h7 ElectrolyticNiP(20 m)Heattreated400 C, 1 hour240481 Credentialsof E-Plated NiPfor ConnectorsThe combination NIPHOS and Au/Co (0,2 m)

9 Has passed the measure-ments of the contact resistance after storage at different conditions according to IEC 1076-4-104 and Bellcore GR-1217-CORE (125 mating cycles // 10 days storage in mixed gas conditions // 125 mating cycles) Highly Competitive Processing Cost -bath is simple to maintain, lasts a long time and has noheavy metals Robust Electrolyte -wide processing window, tolerence to metal contamination Fast processing speed -including Connector and reel to reel applications Corrosion Properties -superior to Bright Nickel and Equal to Electroless Nickel Ideally Suited to improve the current chromium Plating Process of Record ( POR) Ultimate corrosion and diffusion barrier layer -( AuCo , Ag, gradient % P layers and numerous electronic applications) Diamagneticproperties -will expand use in High Frequency Applications Summary: Advantages of E-Plated Nickel phosphorus / January 200934 Uyemura USA240 Town line RdSouthington, CT 06489 Phone Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbHKlarenbergstra e 53-7973525 Schw bisch Gm ndPhone: + 49 -71 71 / 6 07 -01 Fax: + 49 -71 71 / 6 07 -2