IPC Series 3000 is considered the GOLD STANDARD of Electroless Nickel Coatings.
Everything you need to know about this high-quality protective coating is laid out below. Follow along to learn more about its main properties, the numerous advantages it offers clients and previous successful applications.
If you are searching for Electroless Nickel Plating for your equipment and need assistance choosing the right coating, our team of engineers is here to provide technical expertise and guidance. Contact us today or explore our products here.
What is an Electroless Nickel Coating (ENC)?
Electroless Nickel Coating (ENC), also known as Electroless Nickel Plating, is a process in which nickel is evenly deposited on the surface of a metal without using an electrical current. The purpose of an ENC layer is to extend the life of the substrate metal by creating a protective barrier against corrosion and erosion, particularly in harsh and high-temperature environments.
IPC Series 3000 is our signature Electroless Nickel Plating product, widely recognized as the industry standard for protecting oil and gas equipment in some of the harshest environments worldwide.
IPC Series 3000 Main Properties:
- Highly phosphorus nickel alloy coating
- Imparts superior corrosion resistance and added wear resistance to the base material being coated
- A grain-free amorphous structure with excellent barrier corrosion protection
- Morphology is like a metallic glass coating
- The absence of a well-defined crystal structure eliminates the possibility of intergranular corrosion
- Exceptional uniformity
- Zero porosity
Deposit Alloy Composition:
Nickel metal content (wt.%) 87.5% – 89.5%
Phosphorus content (wt.%) 10.5% – 12.0%
Other elements (wt.%) 0.01% – 0.10%
Want to learn more about Electroless Nickel Coatings and IPC Series 3000? Check out our product catalogue here.
IPC Series 3000 Advantages
IPC Series 3000 has become the go-to Electroless Nickel Protective Coating. Why? Because of its numerous advantages, including its excellent mechanical strength, superior corrosion and chemical resistance, and phenomenal mechanical and chemical bonding adhesion.
Another significant benefit is that it offers protection from severe corrosion attacks, including CO2, H2S, Chlorides and high-temperature combinations. It is also an approved NSF-61 Food-Grade Coating. Plus, our IPC Series 3000 coating competes with exotic alloys at a fraction of the cost.
Other IPC Series 3000 Advantages Include:
Uniformity: One especially beneficial property of Electroless Nickel Coating (ENC) is its ability to achieve a uniform thickness that closely follows the contours of the base metal. Grooves, slots, blind holes and even the inside of the tubing receive the same coating thickness as the exterior of the part.
Amorphous Structure: An Electroless Nickel Coating with a high phosphorous content has an amorphous structure. This means it has no set shape or structure, allowing it to contribute to the coating’s excellent corrosion resistance! This structure is generally more resistant to corrosion than polycrystalline materials like pure nickel or chromium alloys. The lack of grain boundaries in amorphous alloys eliminates the common initiation sites for corrosion that occur in polycrystalline materials. This removes segregated impurities that create surface discontinuities. Instead, amorphous or metallic glass coatings form unfirm, glassy films on their surfaces. Moreover, this enhances passivity and provides superior protection in many environments.
Corrosion Resistance: IPC Series 3000 is a true barrier protective coating. It’s not a sacrificial coating like zinc plating but rather provides an excellent barrier between corrosive environments and the substrate. The amorphous nature of the IPC Series 3000 coating is advantageous in enabling the coating to withstand very severe corrosive environments. Typically, only exotic alloys have been used in these corrosive environments!
Watch how Electroless Nickel Coatings are applied to pistons in the automotive industry here.
Successful Applications
IPC’s thin film coatings, like IPC Series 3000, have been successfully applied to a wide array of oilfield components. Components such as valves, fittings, pipe spools, downhole completion tools, etc., are just some examples of what we can coat.
IPC Series 3000 has been proven in severe service conditions for various applications (injection wells, brine service, CO2/H2S service).
It can be found in the most corrosive fields in Western Canada, like:
- Judy Creek
- Brintnell
- Pelican Lake
- Redwater
- The Bakken Play
- The Cardium Play
- Horn River
- Provost
- Winter
- Zama
Final Considerations
At IPC, we can plate and handle casing and tubing lengths in Range 1 – 3, as well as custom lengths up to 50 ft and up to 35” OD. Other dimensions can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Contact IPC for Electroless Nickel Coatings Today
At IPC, our high-performance protective coating products are backed by the rigorous quality assurance systems that we have become known for.
Do you need protective coatings for your next project? Contact one of our IPC Representatives to learn more about how we can assist you.
Browse our protective coating products here or speak to an engineer here.
