Electroless nickel plating for the protection of components in the oil & gas industry

In the highly competitive oil & gas industry, every detail is essential to ensure the high performance and long lifetime of components used in industrial systems. An important player in the industry approached Argos ST with the goal of optimising and improving its production processes.

The request was to replace stainless steel with alternative materials that provide the same high performance but were more cost-effective and easier to process. In particular, the goal was to identify a solution that guaranteed effective protection against corrosion, an essential characteristic for components to be used in extremely aggressive environments such as those of oil-extraction plants.

Electroless nickel plating made it possible to significantly reduce costs, without compromising the quality and resistance of materials. The treatment demonstrated corrosion protection comparable to that of stainless steel, with the added advantage of improved economic and production management.

The solution provided

Argos ST met the request with an electroless nickel-plating treatment, allowing the replacement of stainless steel with lower-grade materials that, thanks to the treatment, provide the same high performance in terms of corrosion resistance, hardness and low friction.

The process used on this casing, part of a super-compressor for the extraction of oil and similar substances, involved initial sandblasting for optimal preparation of the surface, with subsequent protection following its irregular form and finally Niploy treatment to achieve a thickness of 40 microns with final hardness of 500–550 HV.

This treatment provided the following characteristics:

• Corrosion protection – Electroless nickel plating creates a protective barrier against corrosive agents, helping to extend the useful life of components, even in extreme environments.
• Low friction – The treatment helps to ensure low friction, reducing wear on components and optimising their long-term performance.
• Hardness – The level of hardness achieved with the Niploy treatment gives components greater resistance to mechanical damage and wear.
• Uniform deposit – The technology applied ensures a uniform distribution of the coating, which is essential to guarantee consistent performance over the whole area treated.

With these characteristics, the electroless nickel plating proposed proved an effective response to the customer’s requirements, offering a cost-effective yet high-performance solution.

Benefits

The customer made a significant saving by using alternative materials, with performance matching that of stainless steel. The quality of the treatment, which provided effective protection against corrosion and optimally low friction, proved highly satisfactory. The customer also benefited from Argos ST’s technical expertise, with the company successfully identifying an effective alternative solution with high standards of quality and performance.

What sets us apart from the competition is our ability to offer custom solutions, our quick and flexible approach, and the peace of mind of working with a group of experts in industrial treatments.

Once again, Argos ST has demonstrated its ability to meet the challenges of the oil & gas industry, consolidating its role as a reliable partner for companies that require custom, advanced industrial coatings.