Influence of pulse plating conditions on the structure and properties of pure and composite nickel nanocrystalline coatings

An additive-free Watts type bath containing micron- and nano-SiC particles (1 μm and 20 nm respectively), as well as ultrafine-WC particles (200 nm), was used for the production of pure Ni and nickel matrix composite electrocoatings under both direct and pulse current conditions. Moreover, nickel nanocrystalline deposits were obtained from a Watts type bath containing small amounts of 2-butyne-1,4-diol, in order to investigate the combined advantages of additives and pulse technique on the properties of the deposits. The influence of the variable electrolysis parameters, the particle size and the organic additive concentration on the surface morphology, the structure and properties of the deposits were discussed. It has been proved that the application of pulse electrodeposition affects drastically the structural characteristics and properties of the deposits and under well-defined conditions could lead to the preparation of nanostructured materials with improved mechanical properties. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 802–811. The text was submitted by the authors in English.