Compared to cadmium plating, nickel plating offers a shinier and harder finish, but lower corrosion resistance, lubricity, and malleability.

 

Nickel plating often coats household products such as doorknobs, cutlery and shower fixtures for enhanced decoration and wear resistance.         

 

In electroless plating, a nickel phosphorous alloy is used. The percentage of phosphorous in the solution can vary to enhance hardness and corrosion resistance or to allow higher solderability and magnetism.