The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Occluding Quasicrystals in Nickel Plating

I am working on developing wear resistant coating based on a nickel with quasicristals based on Al, Cu and Fr by electrochemical deposition. The process involves suspending alloy particles into the nickel plating electrolyte, nickel sulphate. What is the benefit of using nickel sulfamate for electroplating instead of nickel sulphate?
What would be efficient way of dispersing AlxCuyFezqusicrystals in nickel bath?

Tanja Kmecko
Student - Dallas
February 19, 2009

---

February 20, 2009

Hi, Tanja. Nickel sulphamate has three potential advantages over nickel sulphate that I am aware of. It is more soluble, so a higher nickel concentration and plating speed is possible; a smooth finish can be obtained without sulfur-bearing brighteners which can cause trouble in high temperature operation;and it can be deposited at lower stress levels. Dispersing the crystals and keeping them in solution can be aided via thixotropic additives, and good agitation, perhaps a fluidized bed. Be aware that there are patents applicable to codepositing particles with nickel plating and they have historically been very aggressively defended.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

---

February 23, 2009

Step one is what is the size, shape and parent metal of this part?
Step 2 is what is it to be used for?
Step 3 is how robust does it need to be? i.e., temperature and physical abuse or heavy wear.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida