Nickel Chloride Bath Research Articles

Fabrication of Ni–ZrO2 nanocomposites through a new electroforming bath and Assessment of their morphology, wear, and corrosion resistance

Nowadays, researchers are looking for ways to produce complex tools and pieces with high precision at a low cost. In recent decades, electroforming has been an important and stable technique for producing composite parts. In this research, Ni–ZrO2 nanocomposite foils were fabricated by using a nickel-chloride bath through electroforming, a bath not previously utilized for this purpose. In this study, the effects of ZrO2 concentration and direct current density on the volume percentage of ZrO2 nanoparticles and the grain size of the nickel matrix of foils are also investigated. The sample with 13.65 vol % nanoparticles had the highest volume percentage and the minimum nickel grain size of 516.9 nm, which is almost 46 % smaller than the grain size of pure nickel foil. The wear and corrosion behavior of the foils were examined using a pin-on-disk wear test, potentiodynamic polarization, and impedance spectroscopy analysis. The results showed considerable improvement in the wear and corrosion resistance of the Ni–ZrO2 samples compared to the pure electroformed nickel. The nanocomposites exhibit a lower friction coefficient than pure nickel, with a maximum reduction of 44 %. A composite specimen of Ni–ZrO2 had 2.5 % lower corrosion density and 596 % higher charge transfer resistance compared to pure nickel. It was concluded that the nickel-chloride bath has an excellent potential to produce composite nickel foils with acceptable brightness, satisfactory wear, and corrosion resistance.

Exploring the potential of nickel-chloride bath for electroforming of pure nickel and nickel composites

Electroforming is becoming increasingly important as a reliable method for the production and replication of independent parts. Researchers are continually striving to reduce production costs for the fabrication of complex tools with the highest precision and lowest cost, and electroforming is a key technique for achieving this goal. The present research aimed to produce pure nickel foils via electroforming using a simple and inexpensive nickel-chloride bath, which has not been previously utilized for electroforming. The effects of saccharin concentration, nickel-chloride concentration, direct current density, and the use of graphite as an insoluble anode were investigated. The surface morphology of the electroformed products was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their chemical composition was analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. The microhardness of the foils was determined using the Vickers hardness test. Results showed that specimens produced using the nickel-chloride bath had a good surface appearance with acceptable brightness and satisfactory microhardness. Ten electroforming tests were conducted to determine the optimal bath components, pH, and direct current density for the fabrication of pure nickel products. It was found that these parameters had a significant influence on the quality of the appearance and surface morphology of the foils. In addition, using a graphite anode was seen to reduce the cathode current efficiency as compared to a soluble nickel anode and was affected by the preferred orientation of nickel crystal plates. It can be concluded that the nickel-chloride bath has excellent potential for the production of pure nickel products using the electroforming method.

Fabrication of Robust Superhydrophobic Nickel Films on Steel Surface With High Corrosion Resistance, Mechanical and Chemical Stability

Abstract Superhydrophobic films were successfully grafted on a steel substrate using potentiostatic electrodeposition of nickel followed by treatment with myristic acid (MA) as a low surface energy material. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to investigate the surface topography of the prepared superhydrophobic films. The results revealed that the prepared Ni films modified by myristic acid have micro-nano structures. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed that the steel substrate was coated with nickel film modified with myristic acid. Three different nickel films were prepared: the Ni-MA (I) deposited from pure nickel sulfate bath (1.0 M NiSO4), Ni-MA (II) deposited from pure nickel chloride bath (1.0 M NiCl2. 6H2O), and the third Ni-MA (III) film deposited from Watts bath (0.2 M NiCl2. 6H2O and 0.8M NiSO4). The superhydrophobic Ni-MA (I) film has the highest corrosion resistance, chemical stability, and mechanical abrasion resistance, while Ni-MA (II) film has the lowest properties.

Influence of a metallic nickel interlayer on the performance of solar absorber coatings based on black nickel electrodeposited onto copper

Black nickel is an interesting, economical, and abundant solar absorber material for low temperature solar-to-thermal energy conversion systems, and thin films can be prepared by electrodeposition. Critical parameters include the energy conversion efficiency and thermal stability, which depend on the design of the selective coating and the substrate material. In this work, we show that a metallic nickel interlayer is required in order to achieve thermal stability of black nickel coatings on copper, although the solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency for these multilayer coatings is slightly lower than for coatings of black nickel directly electrodeposited onto copper. The black nickel films were electrodeposited from a nickel chloride bath at pH 6.5 in order to avoid thermal stability issues related to the presence of sulfur. XPS and Raman spectroscopy illustrate that the composition of the black nickel film is complex, containing Ni(OH)2, NiO, NiOOH and metallic Ni. We show that the electrodeposition parameters strongly affect the performance of the selective coating.

High-Aspect-Ratio Metal Microfabrication by Nickel Electroplating of Patterned Carbon Nanotube Forests

High-aspect-ratio metallic microstructures have a variety of potential applications in sensing and actuation. However, fabrication remains a challenge. We have fabricated nickel microstructures with over 20:1 aspect ratios by electroplating patterned carbon-coated carbon-nanotube forests using a nickel chloride bath. Pulse plating allows nickel ions to diffuse into the interior of the forest during off portions of the cycle. Done properly, this solves the problem of the formation of an external crust, which otherwise blocks nickel deposition in the interior of the structures. Thus, densities of 86 ± 3% of bulk Ni for the composite structures are achieved. Cantilever structures do not yield under load, but break. Measurements of the material properties of this composite material indicate an elastic modulus of $\sim 42$ GPa and a strength of 400 MPa. We demonstrate the utility of this method with an external field magnetic actuator consisting of a proof mass and two flexures. We achieved 1-mN actuation forces. [2014-0274]

Optimization and thermal degradation study of black nickel solar collector coatings

Black nickel selective solar surfaces were produced from a nickel chloride bath with additions of zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, and sodium thiocyanate. A linear regression model was used to find the optimum optical properties and to elucidate the roles of individual coating parameters. Three properties, namely plating time, current density, and sodium thiocyanate concentration were found to have the largest influence on the optical properties of the coatings. Several baths from the optimum region were tested, and coatings with absorptances of 0.95 and emittances in the range of 0.24 to 0.26, after heat treatment at 200°C for 18 h, were produced. The predominant degradation phenomena occuring at above 200°C were found by reflection electron diffraction and X-ray diffractio. These included a depletion of sulfur in the coating and the formation of a smooth copper oxide between the substrate and the coating.

二酸化鉛電極による塩化ニッケル電解法

二酸化鉛電極による塩化ニッケル電解法

銅単結晶 (100) 素地へのニッケル電着に及ぼす添加剤の影響

Effects of the bath composition and addition agents on the electrodeposition of nickel have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction method. The orientation of the nickel deposits obtained from Watts, nickel sulfate and chloride baths and also from Watts bath containing addition agents has been analyzed by orientation index.It was found that the nickel deposit from Watts and nickel sulfate baths generally represented (200) orientation, but the deposit from nickel chloride bath represented a tendency toward random orientation.When Na-1, 5 naphthalene disulfonate or saccharin was added to Watts bath, the nickel deposit was (200) orientated in low DK range, but was (200) and (111) orientated in high DK range. However, other orientations such as (220) and (311) were found in thick deposit in high DK range.When thiourea was added to the bath, the deposit was (200) and (111) orientated and the orientation index of (111) was found to be larger in low DK than that in high range.In general, (200) orientation was only observed in the deposit obtained from the bath containing butynediol, coumarin, or formalin.When Na-1, 5 naphthalene disulfonate+butynediol or saccharin+butynediol was used as an addition agent in the bath, orientation index of (111) was found to be very larger as compared with that of the deposit from the bath containing Na-1, 5 naphthalene disulfonate or saccharin.When saccharin+thiourea was added to the bath, the orientation of the deposit was almost the same as that of the deposit from the bath containing thiourea.There was observed (200) orientation only in the deposit from the bath containing acetic acid+butynediol.

アルミニウムへの電着における各種前処理法の検討

A few well known methods of pretreatment for electro-plating on aluminium, are studied.The results are as follows:i) The best adhesive property of electro-deposit is obtained by the pretreatment in the nickel chloride bath, but the plated surface is slightly rough.ii) The electron microscopic observation of the chemically treated surface revealed that the wavy structure is produced by zincate immersion, cleavage like structure by nickel chloride immersion and granular structure by other treatments. The deposit of granular structure is generally less adhesive.iii) The adhesive property does not always depend on the electrode potential.

高速度ニッケルメッキ皮膜の諸性質について

We investigated the various properties of nickel deposits for corrosion protection on the cooling surface of cylinder liner in diesel engine.The following plating baths were used:(1) Watt's bath.(2) Watt's bath containing cobalt sulphate.(3) Mixed bath of nickel sulphate and nickel chloride.(4) Mixed bath of nickel sulphate and nickel chloride containing cobalt sulphate.(5) All nickel chloride bath.(6) All nickel sulphate bath.The Watt's bath is still used today to a large extent and its deposit has good brightness, smoothness and flexibility but poor resistance against erosion.The properties of the deposit obtained from the mixed bath of nickel sulphate and nickel suphlate are similar to those of the deposit from Watt's bath. Adding cobalt sulphate to these bathes, however, we can obtain harder and more durable deposit without any decrease of brightness and flexibility. Finally we found this deposit to be the most suitable one for the protection of cylinder liners.The deposit obtained from all nickel sulphate or all nickel chloride bath has high hardness and good durability, but it is not suitable for the above purpose because of its less flexibility. In addition to this detect it tends to be porous.Owing to high hardness and brittleness the deposit is apt to break out cracks early in its service life. Through these cracks various corrosive agents may penetrate and attack the basis metal until the deposit is flaked off.