The phase structure and morphology of electrodeposited nickel-cobalt alloy powders

Abstract

Cobalt and nickel powders of three different compositions: Ni0.8Co0.2, Ni0.55Co0.45 and Ni0.2Co0.8 were obtained by electrodeposition from an ammonium chloride-sulphate solution. It was shown that the microstructure and morphology of the powders depended on the deposition current density as well as on the bath composition. Amorphous powder of Ni0.8Co0.2 was obtained at the current density higher than 200 mA cm-2, but nanocrystalline powders having the same composition were obtained at current densities lower than 200 mAcm-2. The nanocrystalline powders with lower Ni contents (0.55 and 0.2) obtained at a current density ranging from 40 mA cm-2 to 450 mA cm-2 were solid solutions of two phases, FCC (?-Ni) and HCP (?-Co) ones. The increase of the HCP phase in the powder was a result of both the Co content increase in the powder and decrease of the deposition current density.