Electroless plating
Basic concepts of Electroless plating
In this method, metal ion undergo reduction to give metal which is
deposited on the substrate surface
The electro less plating can be done by using the reducing agent
The reducing agent give electrons for reduction of metal ions
The electrical energy does not used for Electroless plating
M2+ + 2e- (from the reducing agent) Metal (M) (Deposited on substrate surface)
Metal ions
Electroless plating
Steps of Electroless plating
Preparation of active surface of the substrate
Preparation of plating bath
Preparation of active surface of the substrate
1. Etching (acid treatment- for removal of unwanted particles)
2. Electroplating ( Suitable thin layer metal are electroplated on the surface)
3. Treatment with stannous chloride followed by dipping in
palladium chloride
(This treatment for getting a thin layer of palladium on the surface)
Preparation of plating bath
1. Metal salts give metal ions for deposition
2. Reducing agents like formaldehyde and hypophosphite are needed for reduction of
metal ions into metal
3. Complexing agents like EDTA, trisodium citrate added for the complex the metal ions
for preventing the bulk decomposition
4. Stabilizer like thiourea added to prevent the decomposition of bath solution
5. Accelerators like succinates, fluorides added to speed up the reduction process
6. Brighteners like cadmium ions, lead ions added to improve the brightness of the
deposition
Example for electroless plating is nickel electroless plating
Pre-treatment process
Metals like cobalt, steel, aluminium are directly do electroless nickel plating without
any pre-treatment
Metals like lead, cadmium, tin are first doing nickel electroplating and then
subjected to electroless nickel plating.
Non conductors like glass, plastics, ceramics are first activate their surface by
treatment with SnCl2 and HCl followed by PdCl2 and HCl for forming palladium
layer on the non-conductors surface on drying.
Bath compositions
Nickel chloride (coating solution) : 30 g/l
Sodium hypophosphite (reducing agent) :10 g/l
Sodium acetate (Buffer) : 50 g/l
Sodium succininates (complexing agent) : 15 g/l
pH : 4-6
Optimum temperature : 85-95 ℃.
Process
The pre-treated surface are immersed in the bath
The reduction of nickel ion occurs and the nickel gets deposited
on the surface
H2PO2- + H2O H2PO3- + 2H+ + 2e- (ANODE)
Ni 2+ + 2e- Ni (CATHODE)
H2PO2- + Ni 2+ + H2O Ni + H2PO3- + 2H+
Properties of electroless plating
It have better corrosion resistance than nickel electroplating
It provide harder surface with better wear resistance
The electroless plating is solderable and weldable (used to join metal parts)
Applications
Used in electronic industry for preparing printed circuits, diodes …
Used to prevent galling of aluminium, titanium and stainless steel
Advantages of electroless plating over electroplating
Electroless plating provide uniform deposition
Direct deposition is possible on non-conductor or insulators
Deposition is unique physical and chemical properties
No electrical energy required
Deposition is usually less porous than electroplating
Limitations
High cost
Slow coating method
Poor stability of the solution
Bath
Electroless plating
factory
Factors affecting corrosion
Nature of environment
[Link]
2. Humidity
3. pH (Pourbaix diagram)
4. Nature of electrolyte
5. Oxygen concentration
Effect of pH on corrosion (Pourbaix diagram) (Refer Graph in book)
The corrosion of iron under water can be explained through Pourbaix diagram with respect to the pH
of the solution and the electrode potential of iron
The Pourbaix graph will be draw between the pH (taken in the x axis) and electrode potential of the
metal (taken in the Y-axis)
This diagram consists of three zones (corrosion zone, immunity and passivity zones)
In the graph, x is a point where pH is 7 and the electrode potential is -0.4 V and is called corrosion
zone which indicates that the iron become rust in water under these conditions
The rate of corrosion is altered by shifting the point x into immunity or passivity region
The rate of corrosion of iron is altered and shifted to immunity region, if potential is changed to -0.8 V
by applying external current
On the other hand, the rate of corrosion of iron is reduced and shifted to passivity region by applying
the positive potential.
Conclusion: Rate of corrosion of iron reduced by increasing pH of the solution by the addition of
alkali without disturbing the potential.
