Journal of Applied Electrochemistry

, Volume 37, Issue 11, pp 1375–1381 | Cite as

Surface characterization of zincated aluminium and selected alloys at the early stage of the autocatalytic electroless nickel immersion process

Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

In this work the changing structure of nickel–phosphorus deposits on aluminium and its alloys at the early stage of electroless nickel phosphorus deposition using hypophosphite ion as reducing agent has been studied. Prior to electroless nickel deposition, zincating is used for pre-treatment of aluminium substrates. The surface morphology and structure of the electroless Ni–P layers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Results show that Ni–P deposition is closely related to the dissolution of the zincating layer, followed by progressive nickel nucleation. The nuclei serve as a catalytic surface for further Ni–P deposition which increases with deposition time. The growth and coalescence of the nuclei on the aluminium substrate results in crystalline layers of Ni–P.

Keywords

Electroless nickel–Phosphorus deposition (Ni–P) Zincating Pre-treatment 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK for the sponsorship of the project and Macdermid PlC for providing some of the materials and equipment used. The authors thank Prof. Craig Williams of the School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton for his support in the X-ray diffraction analysis.

References

  1. 1.
    Brenner A, Riddell GE (1946) Soc Am Electroplaters 33:23Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Baudrand D (1979) Plat Surf Finish 66(12):14Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Baudrand D (1999) Product Finish 63(10):80Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Gutzeit G (1956) Trans Inst Metal Finish 33:83Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Gutzeit G (1959) Plat Surf Finish 46:1158, 1275 and 1377Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Gorbunova KM, Nikiforvoa AA (1963) J Electrochem Soc 110:271cCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Martyak NM (1994) J Chem Mater Sci 6:1667CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Kreye H, Muller F, Lang L, Isheim D, Hentschel T (1995) Z Metallkd (Germany) 86:184Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Zhang YZ, Wu YY, Yao M (1997) J Mater Sci Lett 17:37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Yamasaki T, Izumi H, Sunda H (1981) Scripta Metall 15:177CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Tyagi SVS, Tandon VK, Ray S (1986) J Mater Sci 8:433Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Hur KH, Jeong JH, Lee DN (1990) J Mater Sci 25:2573CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Lambert MR, Duquette DJ (1989) Thin Solid films 177:207CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Teheri R (2003) Doctoral dissertation. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Duncan RN (1996) Plat Surf Finish 83(65):31Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Agarwala RC, Agarwala V (2003) Sadhana 28:475CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Park SH, Lee DN (1988) J Mater Sci 23:1643CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Aluminium Federation (2003) Aluminium Federation. Birmingham, UKGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    MacDermid plc (2000) Bondal Process, Technical Data Sheet. Birmingham, UKGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    MacDermid plc (2000) VAND-ALOY 6000, Technical Data Sheet Birmingham, UKGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    International Centre for Diffraction Data (1978) JCPDS Card Index FileGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Baudrand D, Bengston J (1995) Metal Finish 93:55CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Armyanov SA (1992) Metal Finish 90:36Google Scholar
  24. 24.
    Vangelova T, Valova E, Hubnin E, Armyanov SA (2001) J Electrochem Soc Sov Electrochem 148:266Google Scholar
  25. 25.
    Golby JW (1981) Doctoral dissertation. University of Aston, Birmingham, UKGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Monterio FJ, Barbosa MA (1998) Surf Coat Technol 35:321CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. 27.
    Monterio FJ, Barbrosa MA, Ross DH, Gabe DR (1991) Surf Interf Anal 17:519CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Pearson T (2006) Trans Inst Metal Finish 84:121CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. 29.
    Pearson T, Wake SJ (1997) Trans Inst Metal Finish 75:93Google Scholar
  30. 30.
    Backovic N, Jancic M, Radonjic LJ (1979) Thin Solid Films 59(1):1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    Libo L, Maozhang A, Gaouhui W (2006) Surf Coat Technol 200:5102CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Szasz A, Kojnok J, Kertesz L (1984) Thin Solid Films 116:279CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    Dragoe N (2001) J Appl Crystallogr 34:535Google Scholar
  34. 34.
    Rousseau JJ (1998) Basic crystallography. John Wiley & Sons, USGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Randin J P, Hintermann HE (1967) Plating 54:523Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.School of Engineering & Built EnvironmentUniversity of WolverhamptonTelfordUK
  2. 2.MacDermid PlCBirminghamUK

Personalised recommendations