etching nickel
A wide range of high-tech engineering applications make use of chemically etched nickel precision components: defence, aerospace, electronics, medical and communications industries to name but a few.
Under normal conditions, Nickel is slow to react with air due to the oxide layer that forms naturally on its surface, preventing further corrosion (passivation). Other characteristics include:
- Magnetic at room temperature
- Hard, malleable, and ductile
- High electrical and thermal conductivity
- High compressive strength
benefits of the etching process on nickel
- Low set-up costs and fast lead times
- The tooling for nickel etching is digital, low-cost and can be modified quickly
- No heat or force is used when etching nickel, so the characteristics of the metal remain unaltered and parts are free from stresses and burrs
- Component features are etched at the same time so part/feature complexity is not an issue
commercially pure nickel
Nickel Alloy 200
- Corrosion resistance
- Low electrical resistivity
- High melting point
- Good tensile and yield strength
- Magnetic and mechanical properties
Nickel Alloy 201
- Low carbon modification
- Low annealed hardness
- Very low work-hardening rate
While we do etch pure nickel, it is frequently used as an alloy in order to improve:
- thermal expansion rate
- heat resistance
- corrosion resistance
- dimensional stability
nickel-iron alloys
Alloys made up of Nickel and Iron (referred to as 42, 46, 48, and 49) exhibit low thermal expansion characteristics over a range of temperatures, ideal for controlled expansion applications.
The reduction in the coefficient of thermal expansion makes these alloys particularly suitable for medical applications, industrial printing, electronics, aerospace, communications, and cryogenic components.
These alloys provide increased:
- tensile strength
- low thermal expansion
- toughness
- malleability
other nickel /iron alloys:
Kovar -a nickel-cobalt-ferrous alloy with a temperature and thermal expansion qualities similar to that of hard glass (borosilicate). It is used where a tight glass to metal seal is required, for example in electronics and scientific equipment, including vaccuum tubes.
Invar -a nickel-iron alloy is preferred where consistent metal stability is required across a range of temperatures due to its low coefficient of thermal expansion
Mu-Metal -is a soft ferromagnetic nickel alloy ideal for low-frequency magnetic shielding of (eg) sensitive electronic equipment.
nickel silver
Nickel Silver is made up of nickel, copper and zinc and is named because of its shiny appearance. It is hard, malleable, ductable, corrosion-resistant and non-magnetic with high thermal and electrical conductivity. It is the most cost-effective material choice for electronics shielding.
It:
- can be soldered,
- will not oxidise and
- requires no additional plating.
other specialist nickel alloys
Nickel Copper Alloys:
Monel is a nickel-copper alloy often used for thin metal components employed in harsh envirornments such as marine, due to its resistance to corrosion.
Nickel chromium alloy:
Inconel is a nickel chromium alloy renowned for its outstanding heat and corrosion resistance and strength in harsh environments where extreme temperatures and pressures occur. It has a thick, stable oxide layer which protects its surface when heated, making it exceptionally resistant to corrosion, oxidisation, pitting, and cracking.
applications for nickel components
A wide range of high-tech engineering applications make use of chemically etched nickel precision components: defence, aerospace, electronics, medical and communications industries to name but a few.
Examples include:
- EMC /RFI shielding cans,
- encoder discs,
- vacuum tubes,
- heat exchanger flow plates,
- connectors and contacts,
- precision shims gaskets and washers.
conclusion
Chemical etching from Tecan is a reliable and efficient method for producing intricate, high precision nickel components. Its versatility and cost-effectiveness make it a valuable technique in various industries, ranging from electronics to aerospace. With its ability to create complex designs and maintain tight tolerances, chemically-etched parts remain a prefererred option for manufacturers seeking quality and precision.
