Self-Lubricating Nickel Boron Coating Services
Traditional nickel boron coatings lose their lubricating properties when surface wear occurs. This degradation requires frequent maintenance and part replacement. Many standard nickel boron formulations also struggle to maintain consistent performance at extreme temperatures or under heavy wear conditions.
At MicroPlating, we offer a proprietary nickel boron coating called MicroSlik. It combines self-renewing lubrication with extreme temperature stability to address the shortcomings of conventional surface treatments. Read on to learn more about how MicroSlik is the optimal choice for demanding industrial applications.
What is Nickel Boron Coating?
Nickel Boron (NiB) is an advanced surface coating engineered for environments requiring exceptional hardness and low friction. It is a composite material applied through a chemical process to create a durable shell over a base material, or substrate. The resulting coating enhances the part’s natural properties without altering the substrate itself. The unique characteristics of NiB coatings are a result of their key components and application method.
How it works:
- The Nickel Matrix: Nickel provides the coating’s primary structure. It forms a durable, metallic matrix that offers excellent corrosion and chemical resistance. This metallic shell protects the underlying substrate from environmental damage.
- The Boron Alloying Agent: Boron acts as the alloying agent during the plating. Its presence creates a distinct nickel-boron alloy. This specific alloy is significantly harder and more naturally lubricious than common nickel-phosphorus coatings.
- The Electroless Application: The coating is applied using an electroless chemical bath. This method requires no electricity. It allows the coating to deposit in a perfectly uniform layer across all part surfaces. This ensures consistent thickness on internal cavities, threads, and complex geometries.
- Post-Application Heat Treatment: The coating can be heat-treated after its application. This post-treatment procedure modifies the coating’s internal structure. The structural change significantly increases the final hardness and improves overall wear resistance.
MicroSlik Proprietary Nickel Boron Coating from MicroPlating
MicroSlik is a proprietary electroless nickel boron coating that incorporates hexagonal boron nitride particles in a homogenous dispersion throughout the coating matrix. The medium phosphorus electroless nickel base provides foundational properties while the boron nitride particles create unique performance characteristics not found in standard nickel boron nitride coatings. MicroSlik addresses the limitations of traditional PTFE composite coatings by maintaining lubricity at extreme temperatures while providing superior hardness and wear resistance.
The coating’s self-renewing mechanism sets it apart from conventional alternatives. Fresh boron nitride particles become exposed as surface wear occurs, maintaining consistent lubrication properties throughout the coating’s service life. This eliminates the performance degradation common with other low-friction coatings where the lubricating layer wears away over time.
MicroSlik nickel boron coating offers the following benefits:
Extreme Temperature Performance: Maintains dry lubricity up to 1600°F, far exceeding the 550°F limitation of PTFE-based alternatives.
Progressive Hardness Enhancement: Heat treatment increases hardness from 48-52 Rc to 62 Rc without sacrificing surface smoothness or lubrication properties.
Complete Surface Protection: Provides 100% coverage with uniform thickness that penetrates complex geometries and threaded areas.
Finishing Flexibility: Uniform deposition allows polishing to high luster finishes while maintaining underlying coating properties.
Cost-Effective Substrate Use: Enables the use of standard or economical base materials by providing superior surface properties through coating enhancement.
Industries Where Nickel Boron Nitride Coatings Are Used
Nickel boron coatings are used in industries where friction reduction, wear resistance, and high-temperature performance are critical. They address challenges in environments where standard surface treatments fail to provide adequate protection or lubrication. The combination of hardness, corrosion resistance, and self-lubricating properties makes it valuable across a wide range of industrial sectors, including:
Medical: Surgical instruments, implant components, and medical device housings benefit from the biocompatible properties and corrosion resistance.
Manufacturing: Injection molding equipment, cutting tools, and precision machinery components utilize these coatings to reduce friction and extend operational life in high-wear applications.
Automotive: Engine components, transmission parts, and brake system elements rely on these coatings for heat resistance and reduced friction in demanding operating conditions.
Aerospace: Aircraft engine parts, landing gear components, and hydraulic system elements require the high-temperature stability and wear resistance that nickel boron coatings provide.
MicroSlik vs. MicroLube Proprietary …
Selecting the correct industrial mold and part coating is critical for performance and longevity. MicroSlik is a nickel boron nitride coating that provides exceptional wear resistance and high hardness. MicroLube offers an alternative approach using Nickel-PTFE technology for superior lubricity and mold release applications.
The choice between these two coatings depends on operating temperature requirements, wear resistance needs, and specific application demands. MicroSlik excels in high-temperature environments while MicroLube provides superior corrosion resistance and hydrophobic properties.
The table below provides a side-by-side comparison of their technical properties.
| Property | MicroSlik (Boron Nitride) |
MicroLube (PTFE) |
|
Composite Material |
Hexagonal Boron Nitride (4-6% by weight) |
PTFE (7-10% by weight) |
|
Physical Appearance |
Matte finish |
Matte finish |
|
Density |
8.0 g/cm³ |
6.6 g/cm³ |
|
Phosphorus Content |
6% (5.0-7.0%) |
11.5-12.5% (7.0-13.0%) |
|
Hardness (as plated) |
50-55 Rc |
33 Rc |
|
Hardness (heat-treated) |
63-67 Rc |
44 Rc |
|
Maximum Operating Temperature |
1600°F |
550°F |
|
Coefficient of Friction |
0.054 |
0.1-0.2 |
|
Electrical Resistivity |
100-150 μΩ/cm |
150-250 μΩ/cm |
|
Salt Spray Resistance (Aluminum) |
>96 hours |
240 hours |
|
Salt Spray Resistance (Carbon Steel) |
>96 hours |
240 hours |
|
Thickness Range |
.00005″ to .003″ |
.00005″ to .001″ |
|
Thickness Control |
±10% |
±10% |
|
Wear Resistance (as plated) |
22-26 mg weight loss |
Not specified |
|
Wear Resistance (heat-treated) |
14-18 mg weight loss |
Not specified |
|
Magnetic Properties |
Slightly magnetic (as plated) |
Not specified |
|
Special Properties |
Self-renewing lubrication can be polished to a high luster |
Hydrophobic, excellent mold release |
|
Optimal Applications |
High-temperature, high-wear applications |
Low-load, high-friction, mold release applications |
Choose MicroSlik for Superior Self-Lubricating Nickel Boron Nitride Coatings
MicroSlik combines nickel boron coating fundamentals with proprietary boron nitride particle integration for enhanced performance. This advanced formulation provides self-renewing lubrication, extreme temperature resistance, and superior wear protection that outperforms standard nickel boron alternatives.
At MicroPlating, we combine decades of electroless nickel expertise with innovative coating technology to address your most demanding surface treatment challenges. Our MicroSlik coating meets the rigorous standards required across medical, aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing industries. Click below to get a quote and discover how MicroSlik can enhance your component performance and operational reliability.