WHAT'S NEW at APC?

Artistic Plating Featured in Products Finishing Magazine for Expansion in Medical Industry
Artistic Plating was recently featured in a cover story of Products Finishing Magazine…

Artistic Plating to once again Exhibit at 2012 Medical Design and Manufacturing Show in Minneapolis, MN
Artistic Plating will be exhibiting in booth 1436 at the upcoming 2012 MD&M Minneapolis show in Minneapolis, MN October 31st through November 1st…

Artistic Plating Launches Expansion of Precision Tin/Lead and Lead Plating Lines
Artistic Plating recently tripled the capacity of precision tin/lead and lead plating services due to recent growth in plating within the bearing, power distribution/transmission and energy sectors…

Artistic Plating Expands with New Flagship Heavy Build Copper Plating Line
Artistic Plating recently launched its newest plating line, which was designed to offer expansion in heavy build copper plating. "This line is truly a state-of-the-art machine that combines over sixty years of plating experience with today’s most modern PLC and SCADA controls…"

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CERTIFICATIONS

Black Electroless Nickel Plating Services – Tacti-Black Electroless Nickel

Artistic Plating Company recently developed an exciting black electroless nickel plating - Tacti-black electroless nickel - which combines the excellent lubricity, uniform deposit thickness, hardness and corrosion resistance of electroless nickel with a fully conductive and uniform black appearance.  Our black electroless nickel plating is currently utilized in a wide range of industries including the firearm, defense, medical, electronic and aerospace industries.  

Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black Electroless Nickel Properties

Artistic’s black electroless nickel plating is available in both medium and high phosphorus varieties.  The amount of phosphorus in the coating affects the deposit appearance and properties similarly to traditional electroless nickel deposits.  In addition, post-plate baking can transition the deposit from an amorphous to crystalline structure, which greatly increases the deposit hardness.

A brief summary of the deposit properties for our black electroless nickel plating is provided below:

Black Electroless Nickel Plating, High Phosphorus (>10% P): Semi-bright to matte charcoal grey appearance, non-magnetic with good solderability and highly corrosion resistant with adequate deposit thickness.

Black Electroless Nickel Plating, Medium Phosphorus (6-9%P):  Semi-bright to bright appearance with a satin black appearance, magnetic, good to excellent solderability and moderate corrosion resistance with adequate deposit thickness.

Our Black electroless nickel plating process produces a deposit that is full conductive and can be soldered or brazed to making it suitable for electronics and EMI grounding/shielding applications.  It provides good temperature stability suitable for service temperatures up to 600F with short duration exposures up to 700F.  It provides the perfect deposit uniformity of traditional electroless nickel with tolerances of less than one ten-thousandth of an inch per side possible.

The appearance of the black electroless nickel plating process is a function of the luster of the substrate as well as the phosphorus content of the deposit.  The blackest and brightest appearance is achieved with a highly lustrous (polished) substrate and a medium phosphorus black electroless nickel plating.  Conversely, a grey and matte appearance is achieved with a fully matte (such as sand blasted) substrate with a high phosphorus black electroless nickel plating process.  A jet-black, fully matte appearance cannot be achieved with Tacti-black electroless nickel.

Artistic’s Tacti-black black electroless nickel plating provides excellent wear resistance consistent with traditional electroless nickel.  However, the black appearance can be worn through in aggressive wear points such as metal-on-metal sliding contact.  As such, the application of the finish for high wear applications should be evaluated accordingly.

Black Electroless Nickel Plating – Tacti-Black Electroless Nickel:  Why Artistic Plating?

Artistic Plating provides expertise in black electroless nickel plating services to fulfill even the most demanding applications.  From prototyping and PPAP qualification to full production processing – it is Artistic’s goal to exceed your expectations.  The following points highlight why Artistic Plating is a leader in electroless nickel plating services:

• Heavy Build Capabilities:  Artistic Plating has successfully employed black electroless nickel plating services to coating thickness of over 0.008 inches.  Our extensive research and development of heavy build thicknesses for the petrol-chemical industry provide a sound background for all heavy build deposit requirements. 
• Diversity of Substrates:  Artistic Plating provides black electroless nickel plating services on nearly any metallic substrate such as copper & copper alloys including beryllium, chromium and tellurium coppers, hardened and alloyed steels, stainless steels, Inconels, Hastalloys, Monels, ductile & cast iron and metalized plastics.  Applications on MIM (Metal Injection Molding) metals are welcome and produce excellent results.
• RoHS and REACH Compliance:  Artistic is at the forefront of environmental compliance and can certify our electroless nickel plating services as needed to the current RoHS, ELV and REACH regulations.
• Reliable Lead Times:  With inventories leaner than ever, customer responsiveness is a core value that we promise to ensure the service our customers need.
• Value Added:  Artistic prides itself on meeting the customer’s needs.  Whether it’s custom engineering packaging, vacuum or nitrogen sealed packaging to enhance storage, Kanban inventory management, light subassembly or multiple finishing combinations – Artistic will work with you to ensure we meeting your needs in electroless nickel plating services.
• Extensive in House Analytical and Quality Lab Services:  SPC is employed in all wet-lab work surrounding our black electroless nickel plating services to ensure baths are analyzed and adjusted at optimum frequencies to ensure operation between critical upper and lower control points.  Our quality lab employs the latest in x-ray, coloumetric and spectrophotometer technologies to inspect your parts and will work to your requirements to provide testing as needed.  Our quality lab can certify salt spray performance to ASTM B117, adhesion to ASTM B571 and solderability to ASTM B678.  Mounted cross sections of parts are also available.