Electrochemical deposition of zinc-polystyrene composites in the presence of surfactants

The electrochemical codeposition of polystyrene particles and zinc on a rot ating cylinder electrode was investigated. Rheological measurements indicat e strong aggregation of the PS particles in the zinc deposition electrolyte . Addition of cetylpyridinium chloride, a cationic surfactant, prevents agg regation and enhances polystyrene codeposition. Other surfactants also incr ease suspension stability, but diminish polystyrene codeposition, irrespect ive of their charge. Hence, the surfactant charge does not affect polystyre ne codeposition. The variation of polystyrene incorporation with the amount of suspended polystyrene, current density and electrode rotation speed sig nifies that polystyrene codeposition with zinc is determined by the competi tion between particle removal forces and particle adhesion forces at the ca thode surface. The effect of the surfactants can be related to changes in s urface roughness of zinc due to surfactant adsorbed on the electrode. Cetyl pyridinium chloride behaves differently from the other surfactants, because it is reduced at the cathode.