| Abstract: | AbstractA new electroplating bath for nickel deposition has been developed. Lactic acid was used as a complexing agent in the bath replacing boric acid. The effect of bath composition, current density, pH and temperature on the cathodic polarisation, cathodic current efficiency, morphology and structure of the deposit was carried out. Optimum conditions for producing sound and satisfactory nickel deposits were: 0·30M NiSO4.7H2O, 0·50–1·0M lactic acid and 0·3M Na2SO4 at pH=10, c.d.=0·98 to 9·80 mA cm?2 and 25°C. The surface morphology of the deposited nickel was investigated using SEM. The crystal structure was examined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results showed that the nickel deposits have a face centred cubic structure. |
