INFLUENCE OF ULTRASOUND ON THE PROPERTIES OF ELECTROLESS-PLATED NICKEL

Ultrasonic agitation during electroless plating nickel affects the str ucture and properties of the deposits. In this work, a complete study was made of the action of ultrasound on the plating rate, micro-hardne ss, phosphorus content and corrosion properties of electroless plated deposits. It was found that in the presence of the ultrasound, the pla ting rate and micro-hardness of as-deposited were increased by about 3 0 and 10 percent respectively, whilst the phosphorus content was decre ased from 10.49 to 8.39 at%. The changes in these parameters, in turn, affect the corrosion behaviour of the electroless deposits. The depos it formed with ultrasound exhibited active corrosion characteristics, whilst the deposit formed without ultrasound had a passive behaviour i n 0.2 M H2SO4 solution.