Electroless plating

Article By:

Weil, Rolf Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey.

Last reviewed:January 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.221500

A chemical reduction process which, once initiated, is autocatalytic. The process is similar to electroplating except that no outside current is needed. The metal ions are reduced by chemical agents in the plating solutions, and deposit on the substrate. Electroless plating is used for coating nonmetallic parts. Decorative electroless plates are usually further coated with electrodeposited nickel and chromium. There are also applications for electroless deposits on metallic substrates, especially when irregularly shaped objects require a uniform coating. Electroless copper is used extensively for printed circuits, which are produced either by coating the nonmetallic substrate with a very thin layer of electroless copper and electroplating to the desired thickness or by using the electroless process only. Electroless iron and cobalt have limited uses. Electroless gold is used for microcircuits and connections to solid-state components. Deeply recessed areas which are difficult to plate can be coated by the electroless process.

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