H. Ferkel et al., ELECTRODEPOSITION OF PARTICLE-STRENGTHENED NICKEL FILMS, Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials: properties, microstructure and processing, 234, 1997, pp. 474-476
Dispersion-strengthened nickel films were obtained by co-deposition of
Al2O3 particles with a mean particle diameter of 14 nm followed by he
at treatment at 850 degrees C. The co-deposition was achieved by addit
ion of Al2O3 powders in a typical Watts bath before electroplating of
nickel on copper substrates. The Ni films are analyzed by light and tr
ansmission electron microscopy and by measurement of the coercivity an
d the microhardness. The particle-strengthened Ni films show a remarka
ble improvement of hardness due to grain stabilization and dispersion
hardening of the nickel grains by alumina nanoparticles as observed by
structural investigations of the samples. Reinforcement of electrodep
osited nickel films by nanosized alumina particles is a simple process
producing wear-resistant coatings. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.