The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

To prepare a coating of Ni-P-(ZnMn)Fe2)4-BaTiO3 by EL method

Sir I want to prepare nano-coating of ferrite and Barium Titanate on Al substrate By El method. Can it be Possible By Co-deposition? I have already prepared powders of above by chemical roots.

Dhananjay Kumar Singh
Student - Roorkee, Uttaranchal, India
2006

---

2006

Mr. Singh

Among the various factors that influence the incorporation of particles in an electroless NiÚP matrix, you must first consider the inertness of the particles in the plating bath. Since you are interested to co-deposit the nano-sized particles of manganese zinc ferrite and barium titanate in the electroless Ni-P matrix, the other two major concerns are effective dispersion of the particles in the bath without agglomeration and addition of suitable stabilizers.

It is well known that dispersion of finely divided particles would increase the surface area loading of the electroless plating bath by 800 times than that is normally acceptable for conventional electroless plating. Hence, addition of suitable stabilizers is a MUST to prevent homogeneous decomposition of the plating bath.

We have coated iron powders using acidic hypophosphite-reduced electroless nickel plating bath. So the manganese zinc ferrite powder will also get coated when added to the electroless plating bath. If the ferrite particles get coated then, it will compete with your substrate. Since the surface area of the particles is much higher than your substrate you may end up with a poor coating.

Please share your experience after conducting the experiments. It will be helpful to many of us.

T.S.N. Sankara Narayanan
- Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
(ed.note: The good doctor offers a fascinating blog, "Advancement in Science" )