A Study of potential of nickel electroplating onto AI alloy

Abstract

Electroplating of nickel onto aluminium alloy surface by using nickel sulphate solution as an electrolyte solution. In this study, to determine the effect of different voltage on nickel plating. The aluminium plate was undergo the sample preparation which is grinding and polishing to remove the oxide layer. Pre-treatment that divide into three steps that are degreasing (immerse the sample in acetone), etching( Keller reagent) and activation(immerse in nitric acid). After cleaning process, the electroplating process is conducted using different voltage that are 4V to 20V. The process give the particular result of each samples. The sample was figure out by four testing that are weight mass, Optical Microscop, Scanning Electron Microscop and Vickers Hardness Analysis. The thickness of nickel plated is increase as the voltage increase.Thus,the hardness also increase at high voltage. The study prove that the increase in voltage effect the electroplated layer and the hardness. The uniformity and profiles of electroplated microstructures are controlled mainly by different voltage. the higher the voltage give the better product as the hardness is increasing. Optimal conditions of 8V were obtained as it uniform nickel plated thickness distribution on the specimen.