Abstract
As an electrical contact material that is compatible with the recent trend of miniaturization of electronic devices and components, the authors have been investigating electrodeposited amorphous gold alloys with properties that are unaffected by their crystal-grain size, unlike conventional electroplated hard gold. Amorphous alloys in general, however, are known to suffer from high electrical resistivity because of the short mean free path of electrons in such alloys. To resolve this problem, we developed a process of electroplating Au-Ni alloy films with a mixture of nanocrystalline and amorphous phases and investigated the films' physical characteristics. Results show that those Au-Ni films with mixed phases possess low electrical resistivity, retaining corrosion resistance in a range of practical tolerances. The microstructure of the new material of nanocrystalline-amorphous Au-Ni alloy excels in mechanical strength while retaining the properties of Au. Moreover, it is thermally stable at temperatures up to 300°C. Consequently, this new material is expected to be useful as a material for electrical contact surfaces. Furthermore, this study revealed that the electroplated Au-Ni alloy film microstructure is controllable by selecting suitable bath compositions and plating conditions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
