UIC’s Tech Center has announced Nickstar,
a decorative black nickel technology that deposits a thin and highly uniform over-coat
of black nickel-zinc alloy, preserving the substrate’s brightness while producing an exceptionally rich black nickel finish.

Nickstar is a lustrous, and highly versatile
decorative black nickel:

• A deposit thickness up to 2 micron
  can be achieved with rack or barrel applications.
• If a thicker deposit – or very high
  corrosion performance – is desired,
  a heavy nickel undercoat can be used. 
• Greater hardness can be achieve
  easily with an optional salt additive.
• Color density, from darkest black to
  softer hues, can be modified easily
  using a hull cell.
• A distinctively elegant appearance can
  be produced when Nickstar decorative
  black nickel is dual-toned with UIC
  satin nickel.

Nickstar decorative black nickel is
exceptionally well-suited for automotive
interiors and for upscale sporting goods,
where it diminishes glare and improves durability.  It is also ideal for hardware, plumbing, architectural and other decorative uses that demand a luxurious finish with
a long service life.

Nickstar achieves a deeper black finish than
any competitive nickel process alternative,
and performance characteristics superior
to electrocoat.