The role of anion additives in the electrodeposition of nickel-cobalt alloys from sulfamate electrolyte

Nickel-cobalt alloys have been deposited from sulfamate electrolyte with acetate and citrate-anion additives and evaluated for structure and properties, such as microhardness, tensile strength, internal stress and high-temperature oxidation. XRD data show that at low Co content, the alloys exhibit face-centered cubic (fcc) growth orientations. Above 60% Co, the deposit is completely hexagonal close packed (hcp) with pronounced (100) and (110) lines. It seems likely that the Ni-Co deposits from typical sulfamate electrolyte at pH 5, as well as at current density higher than 5 A/dm², include metal hydroxides. This is followed by the formation of a more strained structure. The high-temperature oxidation rate of the Ni-Co coating from sulfamate electrolyte at pH 5 is twice that of the alloy deposited from the electrolyte with anion additives. We believe that, citrate complexes of Ni and Co, which are assumed to be involved in alloy deposition, eliminate the incorporation of hydroxides into the deposits and enable low-internal-stress coating. The anion-modified bath offers stability of structure and properties of the alloy over a wide range of acidity and current density.