ABSTRACT
Electroless nickel-boron (NiB) coatings are obtained when a boron-based chemical, such as dimethylamine borane or sodium borohydride, is used as a reducing agent in electroless nickel plating.
While the process is similar to electroless nickel-phosphorus in its principle, the nature of the reducing agents induce several differences in practice, such as the pH and temperature of the plating bath, but also the types of stabilizing agents that can be used, mostly for the bath that uses borohydride.
Similarly, the difference in size, atomic weight, and other properties between phosphorus and boron leads to differences in behavior between the two types of coatings. Electroless NiB coatings are very hard and present excellent resistance against wear but their corrosion resistance is usually limited.
The coatings present other interesting properties, including catalytic activity.
