Wednesday, October 1
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Speakers: Brad Durkin, Conference Technical Director
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Update Global Market Trends Nickel & Hypo
Speaker: Andreas Donati, Commercial Director | Palm Commodities International, Inc.
​An update on Nickel pricing, production and demand as is today and an overview of what we should expect in the coming years.
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
New Ways to Improve EN Bath Performance
Speaker: Michael Feldstein, President | Surface Technology, Inc.
This presentation will discuss two new methods to improve cost, productivity, environmental, and quality.
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The first innovation is a new way to use a high phosphorous EN bath up to the end of its useful MTO life; and then make an adjustment to the bath so it can be used for a much longer time as a medium phosphorous EN bath. The life of the bath can be doubled, therefore reducing waste in half and providing substantial cost savings.
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The second innovation is a new way to use one EN bath as either an acid type medium phosphorous bath for normal plating, or how that same EN bath can be used as an alkaline strike bath in the pretreatment process for aluminum parts. This option makes it easier for shops to include an alkaline strike bath to avoid zinc contamination in the acid EN bath. The plater can reduce solution inventory and waste.
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Message From Gold Sponsor
Refreshment Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Message From Gold Sponsor
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Overview of the Effect of Phosphorus on Grain Structure and Corrosion Protection in Electroless Nickel Coatings
Speaker: Jeff Boehmer, Director of Business Development | Columbia Chemical
Electroless nickel can be broken down into three categories of high, medium, and low phosphorus-containing deposits. From an industry perspective, it is common knowledge that the deposits contain phosphorus in varying amounts to enhance corrosion protection, wear properties, and hardness.
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This presentation will provide an overview of the percent range of phosphorus in each category, its impact on corrosion protection properties and deposition rates, and its performance in acid vs. alkaline environments. Significant focus will be placed on understanding phosphorus's effects on the deposit structure.
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Utilizing SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) with an EDS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) detector, coupled with X-Ray Fluorescence, we will examine the images and evaluate the deposit structures to gain insight into how corrosion protection and other attributes are altered with varying concentrations of phosphorus.
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Performance Advantages of Steady-State Electroless Nickel: A Real-World Perspective
Speaker: Matt Sisti, Technical Advisor | MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions
Abstract to Come
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Applications for Electroless Nickel in Electric Vehicles
Speaker: Douglas Hughes, Industry Manager | MacDermid Ethone Industrial Solutions
Audience members will be shown examples of use of electroless nickel as an engineering coating in electric vehicles. The applications will be described in some detail and the role of electroless nickel on the functionality of the component will be highlighted.
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Message From Gold Sponsor
Networking Lunch
1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Message From Gold Sponsor
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
​A Novel High Corrosion, Harder High Phosphorus Electroless Nickel Process
Speaker: Joseph Zabielski, Technical Director | Ronatec C2C
Typical high phosphorus electroless nickel processes offer superior corrosion resistance as compared to that of other processes (500-1000 hours). There is a trade off though. Micro hardness is inferior to that of other electroless nickel processes in an "as plated" state. A new advance in electroless nickel technology allows for an elevated corrosion resistance above and beyond a typical high phosphorus electroless nickel. This novel process exceeds 8000 hours NSS performance with no post treatment or topcoat. The process is truly novel. There is no additional alloying constituant. It is a single layer of nickel phosphorus. Hardness is also further enhanced to that of a medium phosphorus electroless nickel in an "as plated" state. In terms of use, the novel process operates the same as a typical electroless nickel process would.
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Characterization of Stabilizers in Electroless Nickel Utilizing Electrochemical Methods
Speaker: Ambrose Schaffer, Global Product Line Manager | MacDermid Enthone
Industrial Solutions
Audience members will be shown an electrochemical method which characterizes the stabilization effect of different additives on the electroless nickel reaction. These additives will be tested under this methodology and the effect on each of the two primary reactions, namely the oxidation of hypophosphite and the reduction of nickel, will be determined.
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Need Logo for Ronatec
with border like other
Message From Gold Sponsor
Refreshment Break
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Message From Gold Sponsor
4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Advantages and Applications of Low Phosphorus Electroless Nickel
Speaker: William Staples, Product Manager | MKS-Atotech
Low Phosphorus Electroless Nickel (Low P EN) is a coating that has been around for a long time but has not attained the application volume of the more common High Phosphorus and Mid Phosphorus coatings. Low P EN offers a range of benefits that make it highly suitable for various industrial applications. This presentation will describe some of the unique properties of Low P EN, including its superior hardness, excellent wear resistance, corrosion protection, and the ability to blacken the deposit. The presentation will highlight some key applications of Low P coatings in which durability is critical.
4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Sustainabilty and Profitability in Electroless Nickel Systems
Speaker: Helmut Horsthemke, Director | MacDermid Enthone Industrial
Solutions
Audience members will understand how superior performing electroless nickel systems can lead to improved sustainability and profitability for users by modeling the influence of multiple aspects on the overall cost.
5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Waste Treatment Practices in the Electroless Nickel Industry; An update 30 years Later
Speaker: Marc Aleksinas, Industry Manager | Metal-Chem
This presentation is a nod to The Great, Ron Duncan, recognizing one of his many contributions to electroless nickel. Metal Chem will refresh and conduct a modern-day take on the anonymous waste treatment survey results presented at the 1995 EN Conference. We aim to provide insights on spent bath waste treatment methods, costs, and possible new innovations in the marketplace. EN Conference attendees who participate in the survey in advance will contribute to the success of the data set and see how their practices compare to others around the country. Ron Duncan sent the questionnaire to 350 electroless nickel facilities and received 73 responses. Be on the lookout for your survey and participate so we can make this presentation a success.
Networking Reception