Electrolytic codeposition of silica particles with aluminum from AlCl3-dimethylsulfone electrolytes

The electrolytic codeposition of silica particles with aluminum was investi gated from an AlCl3-dimethylsulfone electrolyte containing monodisperse sil ica particles with a diam of 0.2 mum The electrodeposition was done at 110 degreesC and at current densities between 6 and 13 A/dm(2). Dense aluminum coatings with a thickness of 20 mum were obtained at a plating rate of 77 m um/h. The coatings contained a homogeneous dispersion of individual silica particles. The amount of codeposited silica particles was found to depend o n the concentration of silica particles suspended in the electrolyte and th e current density. (C) 2001 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserve d.