Specific electrical conductivity of chromium plating and nickel plating electrolytes

Abstract

The paper presents the results of measuring specific electrical conductivity (SEC) of chromium and nickel plating electrolytes with the help of a non-contacting conductivity meter of the CRAB-d 064 type in temperature intervals corresponding to the working ranges of electrochemical deposition processes. A schematic diagram of the apparatus for the measurement of electrolyte SEC is presented. Electrolytes based on chromium compounds of varying degrees of valence (Cr3+ Cr6 +) and a standard nickel electrolyte (Watts electrolyte) were chosen as the objects of study. The dependence of the SEC of electrolytes on their temperature is analyzed, a comparative assessment of the impact of temperature on the electrical conductivity of various chroming electrolytes is given.
 The influence of addition of nanoparticles of aluminum oxide and silicon carbide with the dispersion of 40-100 nm and a specific surface area of 23-32 m2 / g on the amount of electrical conductivity of an oxalate-sulfate electrolyte for chromium plating at a specified temperature is investigated. The study of nanosuspensions showed that the addition of nanoparticles of different nature with the concentration of 5-10 g / l to an electrolyte has no significant effect on the value of SEC.
 To evaluate the relationship between the electrolyte conductivity and process parameters of electrodeposition of chromium and nickel coatings a qualitative assessment of chromium and nickel current output was performed and bar graphs showing the ratio of the values of the electrolyte electrical conductivity and the metal current output are presented. It has been established that the electrical conductivity of electrolytes and the metal current output are parameters that do not depend on each other.