Effect of plating time on structural properties of Ni-plating coating on Nylon 12 powders

Abstract

In this work, the effects of plating time on structural properties of Ni-plating coating on Nylon 12 (PA12) powders modified with 3-amino-propyltriethoxysilane (KH550) solution were investigated systematically using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results showed amine groups attached on surface of KH550-modified PA12 powders, which could adsorb Sn and Pd used as sensitizer and activator, respectively. The relative concentration of Sn and Pd on sensitized and activated PA12 surface were 0.15 and 0.04%. When the plating time increased from 1 to 60 min, the crystallinity of Ni-plating coating enhanced and Ni-particle deposited content increased from 3.8 to 28%. Moreover, the Ni-plating particles firstly showed discrete distribution on the PA12 surface, average Ni-particle size was little changed at about 0.18 μm, and then showed continuous distribution with the average size increased to 0.32 μm.