PREFERRED ORIENTATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF ELECTRODEPOSITED IRON FROM IRON(II) CHLORIDE SOLUTION

The effects of each electrolytic condition on current efficiency, Vick ers hardness, crystal structure and crystal morphology were studied wi th respect to the electrodeposited iron films obtained from iron(II) c hloride solution. The temperature of the solution was varied from 20 t o 60-degrees-C, the pH value of the solution varied from 0 to 2, and t he applied current density varied from 5 to 100 mA CM-2. Higher curren t efficiency was obtained at a higher solution temperature, higher pH value of the solution and lower applied current density. The films thu s obtained showed a lower Vickers hardness and a preferred orientation of the (110) plane. Lower current efficiency was obtained at a lower solution temperature, lower pH-value of the solution showed a higher V ickers hardness, and a preferred orientation of the (211) plane. It is thought that these tendencies are related to the contribution of the hydrogen evolution reaction as a side reaction.