The study of Ni–Co alloy deposition on iron powder particles in a fluidized bed from sulphate bath

Abstract

This paper describes a process of electrolytic deposition of nickel–cobalt (Ni–Co) binary alloy on Fe powder. Electrochemical behavior of this binary alloy was studied by cyclic voltammetry with a paraffin impregnated graphite electrode as a working electrode. Deposition of individual metals (Ni, Co), as well as the simultaneous nickel–cobalt co-deposition, was performed in aqueous solutions (Watts-type electrolyte) both with and without Fe powder. Special attention was paid to the influence of suspension density on the electrode process. This density affects on the quality of iron powder electroplating. Preferential deposition of the less noble metal (Co) leading to its higher content in the deposit was observed in contrast to the more noble one (Ni) in spite of higher content of Ni in the plating solution. This anomalous phenomenon–known already for other metals (Zn, Cd, Sn)–has been confirmed and investigated for iron-group metals (Fe, Co, Ni) in this work. Electrolytic deposition of Ni–Co binary alloys, including anomalous behavior is a complicated process. Understanding the anomalous behavior would lead to better control of the deposition process and to explanation of the mechanism of Ni–Co co-deposition.