4 replies to this topic

[Jake Didsbury]

Where I work, we refurbish cooling systems for the steel works, this involves sand blasting and nickel plating. We had the idea to try some car parts in our nickel tanks, the process is electro-less nickel plating which is low temperature (below 100 degrees) which means no warpage.

This process is used by us for the steel works and it is also used on off shore oil rigs.

We have the ability to do it very easily and have tanks big enough to drop a subframe in or a front wing etc.


This process gives a nickel coating that has excellent corrosion resistance, gives a surface twice harder than stainless steel and is also self lubricating

We have been testing some samples, we are going to try to etc prime some plated panels to see if they can be painted to

Here are some photos

 293720_10151021243433966_621615900_n.jpg   26.87K   1 downloads

 389083_10151021253983966_1690868601_n.jpg   22.79K   6 downloads
The bare metal (just blasted arm just going into the tank)

 250908_10151021256198966_1327524835_n.jpg   22.05K   3 downloads
In the tank

 558328_10151021303318966_1097878807_n.jpg   55.93K   10 downloads
Nickel plated cast steel, 40 microns thick, twice harder than stainless steel, highly corrosive resistant and self lubricating

 580829_10151021302798966_534087256_n.jpg   61.89K   8 downloads


At the moment we are doing trials as to the weld-ability of the plating


Jake

Edited by Jake Didsbury, 11 July 2012 - 04:25 PM.

[mini*mad]

hmm very interested in this!
rear subframe would be great!
whole shell would be better;)

[Jake Didsbury]

hmm very interested in this!
rear subframe would be great!
whole shell would be better;)

It would your right! If we had a tank to do it im sure we would!

We are currently testing it all at the moment, when we have the 'set in stone' results this will be available

Thank you!

[MiniElliott]

Wouldnt this also polish up to a mirror finish with a bit of effort ?

[Jake Didsbury]

Wouldnt this also polish up to a mirror finish with a bit of effort ?

Possibly Elliott, we haven't tried that but its something we can try. We blast the stuff first before it goes into the tank and if we blast it with a fine beed it gives a nice finish when plated and we found a coating of about 30-40 microns gives a nice shine on a smooth surface

Jake

Edited by Jake Didsbury, 11 July 2012 - 06:54 AM.