AMS-QQ-N-290 Nickel Plating: Class 1 and Class 2

DiFruscia Industries nickel plates parts to AMS-QQ-N-290, under DFI’s AS9100D quality system. Nickel plating is not a Nadcap special process.

What nickel plating does

Nickel electroplating deposits a hard, corrosion-resistant nickel layer. It protects steel and copper alloys, resists wear and serves as a barrier undercoat beneath other finishes. See Electrolytic Nickel.

Classes and grades

What to expect

• A barrier, not a sacrificial coating. Nickel protects by sealing the surface, so enough thickness matters for corrosion resistance.
• Wear resistance, and a durable undercoat for other finishes.
• Appearance: bright to dull metallic.
• Barrel plated. Small parts tumble in a rotating, perforated barrel in the plating bath, for an even, economical finish on high volumes of fasteners, pins, contacts and other small components.

How to call it out on the drawing

• Give the class and grade, which sets the thickness.
• High-strength steels may need hydrogen embrittlement relief baking after plating. Put the part’s hardness on the PO.
• Barrel plating suits small, robust parts. For delicate, large or cosmetic-critical parts, ask DFI about a different approach.

Where it’s used

Electronics, industrial hardware, fasteners and aerospace hardware. For uniform thickness on complex shapes, see ASTM B733 electroless nickel.

Get a quote or a data sheet

Send the drawing and the spec callout to rfq@difruscia.com, or use Request a Quote. DFI’s technical data sheet for this process is available on request from Technical Specifications. Questions: 401.943.9900 or support@difruscia.com.

Values shown are typical results for reference only and are not specification limits. Results vary with alloy, part geometry, thickness and process parameters. Contact DFI to confirm the requirements for your application.