Electrochemical behaviour of baths for the codeposition of Au/B4C composites

The addition of micrometer sized B4C particles to Au baths for the electroc hemical deposition of metal matrix particulate composite Au B4C films bring s about deposition overvoltage decrease or increase as a function of curren t density, hydrodynamic conditions and particle content of the bath. The ph enomenon was studied by galvanostatic measurements. Surface and cross-secti onal morphologies of composites were studied with SEM and image analysis. O vervoltage variations can be rationalised in terms of morphology changes br ought about by the interplay of: morphology development, particle screening , growth rate and hydrodynamic effects.