Volume 5, Issue 5, May – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Electroplating of Nickel on Various Metal Surfaces

Daw Hla Hla Soe#1 Daw Tin Mar lwin *2
#1 #2
Department of Engineering Chemistry, Department of Engineering Chemistry,
Technological University (Toungoo) Technological University (MawLaMyine)

Abstract:- The nickel plating process has been being elevated sulphur content. This type of plating is especially
used extensively for decorative, engineering, and adapted for bumpers, rims, exhaust pipes and trims for cars,
electroforming purposes since many years ago. In a motorcycles and bikes as well as lighting fixtures and
nickel plating, there are many controlled parameters for plumbing. It is also ideal for restoring any machinery
different purposes. The main objective of the paper is to mechanisms that are worn. Unlike other forms of nickel
study electro-plating of nickel for corrosion resistance plating, electroless nickel plating is applied using an
depending on reaction time and various substrates. The autocatalytic reaction and does not involve an electric
electrolytic nickel plating was carried out by using nickel current. It is ideal for preventing corrosion and wear and for
anode and the substrate metal cathodes (Iron, Brass, Zn- anything that requires an elevated hardness. Kitchen
Fe alloy, Aluminium) in the presence of boric acid instruments, door knobs, bathroom taps, office equipment,
additive. The applied voltage 2-3V and applied current drive shafts, rotors and oil field valves are Nickel coated by
200-300 mA must be applied from the transformer which this technique. Dull Nickel plating is similar to bright nickel
gives a maximum constant 12 V D.C out-put. The plating but produces a dull, matte finish. It is hard wearing,
electrolytic nickel plating occurs at the cathodes surface, malleable and offers significant corrosion resistance. The
therefore the potential of cathode substrate must be plating technique is used as an undercoat for chromium, tin
lower or nearly equal to the electrode potential of Ni. plating, silver plating and gold plating for machine parts,
Brass (Cu-Zn) alloy cathode substrate is given the good springs or things where movement is required [2]. As the
results for the nickel plating among other cathodes of different in Nickel plating techniques, the operating
aluminium (Al), iron (Fe) and zinc-iron alloy (Zn-Fe). parameters are also different. In each of these Nickel plating
The thickness of nickel coated film in each substrate is in types, the physical appearance and thickness of Nickel is
the order of Brass > Fe > Zn-Fe > Al. Finally, the usually changed depending on various operating parameters.
thickness and physical appearance of Nickel coated film The following are some previous researches which discussed
on different metal surfaces will be discussed depending how much influence the operating parameters on the process
on reaction time. of Nickel plating.

Keywords:- Nickel Plating, Electrolytic Cell, Reaction Time, In [2], A. Brenner and et al discussed about of Nickel
Various Substrate, Corrosion Resistance. plating on steel by chemical reduction. Their work was
developed for the production of adherent nickel deposits of
I. INTRODUCTION good quality on steel. The deposition of nickel was brought
by chemical reduction of a nickel salt with hypophosphite in
Electroplating is widely used to coat a metal, with a a hot ammonical solution. The reduction occur only at the
thin layer of another metal. Nickel plating involves adding a surface of the immersed metal with the production of a
thin layer of nickel onto a metal object for a variety of coating of nickel of 96 to 97 percent purity.
reasons. There are many electroplating such as gold plating,
copper plating and etc., used for industrial, engineering and Next publication was submitted by N. V. Mandich and
decorative. Among them, Nickel electroplating is becoming et al [4]. The mechanisms of the work were detailed and
an increasingly versatile process used for surface finishing starting with the role of inorganic builders, through
processes. It is because nickel is one of the most often surfactants and solvent actions. The fundamentals of
employed to increase the corrosion resistance or electrical formulating science and know-how are fashioned for
conductivity of the underlying substrate [1]. The most different types of industrial formulations using a number of
important property in engineering end uses is, generally typical formulas as appropriate examples were discussed and
corrosion and resistance but wear resistance, solder ability, they proved the important of the cleanliness of the surface
and magnetic and other properties may be relevant in for coating.
specific applications. In these engineering application area,
Nickel plating is very useful and famous because of its After that, J. Song and et al proposed the corrosion
smoothness, different brightness color and low cost. In this protection of conductive surfaces [5]. Their work
coating Nickel on metals, there are three most popular types, investigated different ways to minimize the consumption of
Bright nickel plating, Electroless nickel plating and Dull gold for electrical contacts and to improve the performance
nickel plating. of gold plating. Other plating materials used for corrosion
protection of electrically conductive surfaces are tin, nickel,
Bright nickel plating adds bright nickel plating to an silver and palladium. Finally, the work also compared
item, it must be submitted to an electric current. Bright properties and results of different plating materials used for
nickel plating produces a bright mirror like finish due to its corrosion protection of electrically conductive surfaces and

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Volume 5, Issue 5, May – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
the testing of corrosion resistance of electrically conductive
surfaces.

Another Nickel plating was proposed in [6]. In this (a) (b) (c)
work, the nickel plated electrodes were prepared by electro-
deposition technique on mild steel surface modified with in-
situ deposition of nickel titanate. The extent of polarization
of the nickel plating on mild steel with nickel titanate was
lower than that of nickel plating on mild steel. Their results
showed that the nickel plating on nickel titanate modified
mild steel gave better adherence than the nickel plating on (d) (e)
bare mild steel surfaces. Fig.1:- Description of proposed Nickel plating process. (a)
Nickel plates, (b) and (c) Iron Plates, (d) Schematic diagram
In [7], the properties and the effect of operating of proposed process and (e) Actual image of proposed
parameters on nickel plating was discussed as a review Nickel plating process.
publication. It presented the appearance and other properties
of the electrodeposited material, nickel deposition can be The smooth surface was cleaned to remove any
varied, over a wide range, by controlling the composition previous deposits by immersion in dilute nitric acid (1:1)
and the operating parameters of the plating solution. The rising with distilled water, then boiling with fresh nitric acid
properties of nickel and the different effects of the operating (1:1) for about one minute. It was placed on a watch glass
parameters on nickel plating, together with the simulation and dried for 3 to 4 minutes in an electric oven. It was
and design tools, are also reviewed. weighed and measured the thickness of nickel after cooling
in air for 5 minutes. Beaker (150 cm3) was employed as
In [8], corrosion of electroless deposited Nickel- electrolytic vessel in the present electrolysis process. The
Phosphorus was presented by A. Sosa Dominguez and et al. vessel contains nickel plate anode, iron plate cathode and
In this work, coatings for solar-to-thermal energy conversion nickel electrolyte solution. The vessel was dipped into the
had been deposited onto carbon steel substrates from a water bath to maintain the temperature. Electrolyte solution
nickel sulphate electroless bath, as a source of nickel and was added to the electrolytic vessel and electrical connection
sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent. The results of was set up. The assembled electrolytic unit is shown in Fig.
their work showed a decrease of corrosion resistance but 1.
associated with the increase of four times the surface area of
black coatings. The burbles of oxygen gas were evolved at the anode
surface when the electricity was passed through the
The proposed paper present the Nickel electroplating electrolytic cell. When the cell voltage was slowly increased
for corrosion resistance depending on reaction time and by adjusting the rheostat, the current through the electrolytic
various substrates. The paper is composed of four sections. cell was slowly increased. The cell voltage reached to (2V-
The section I is the introduction of Nickel plating and the 3V), the evolution of oxygen gas was moderate rate and the
previous work. In section II, materials and proposed method nickel metals were coated on cathode. The current flow
will be presented. The section III is the experimental results through the electrolytic cell was about 100-300mA.
and discussions. Finally, conclusions of the paper will be
presented in section IV. The experimental conditions are,

II. MATERIALS AND METHOD Anode = Nickel

Cathode = Iron
The main objective of the paper is to study electro- NiCL2.6H2O concentration = 0.15 g dm-3
plating of nickel on various metal surfaces and examined on
the corrosion resistance of electrolytic nickel coated film by H3BO3 = 0.38 g dm-3
using electrolytic nickel plating technique. Total volume = 100 cm-3
NiSO4.6H2O Concentration = 3.0 g dm-3
A. The Construction of Electrolytic Cell Cell voltage = 2V
The following electrolytic parts are required to Current = 230 mA
construct the electrolytic cell: namely, electrical connection, pH = 3.5
electrodes and the electrolytic vessel. The nickel plate was Temperature = 30 Ċ
used as anode. Iron, brass, zinc-iron alloy and Aluminium
metals were used as the substrate for nickel plated surfaces. After 15 minutes electroplating the electrodes were
Metal plates were cut in suitable size of length 4.5cm in raised and at the same time they were washed with a
length and 3.5 cm in width, the distance between two continuous stream of distilled water from a wash bottle up to
electrodes was 0.5 cm apart. The surface was made smooth the upper edge of the electrodes. The electrodes were
with sandpaper. removed from the solution and the circuit connection must
not be cut during the process. When the electrodes were
thoroughly washed, the connection of the circuit was cut out

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Volume 5, Issue 5, May – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
and the electrodes were dipped into a beaker of distilled E. Determination required amount of additive Boric Acid
water and then it was rinsed with analytical grade acetone. (H3BO3) in Electroplating Process
The electrodes were dipped into a beaker of distilled water For this study, experiment runs were performed by
and then it was rinsed with analytical grade acetone. The varying the concentration of boric acid in an electrolyte
electrodes were dried at 100-110 C for about 3 minutes in solution, keeping time of electroplating at 1 hour, while
an electric oven. It was weighed after cooling in air about 5 similar operational conditions and electrochemical
minutes and the thickness of the casted film was measured techniques were employed as described in section IIA. The
by micrometer. Then the thickness of the coasted film was concentrations of boric acid in electrolyte solution were 0.1
calculated by the following relation. kg dm-3, 0.2 dm-3, 0.3 kg dm-3, 0.4 kg dm-3, were used for
each experiment and the operational conditions were
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 employed as shown in section II-A. The resulting physical
Thickness (mm) = (1)
𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 ×𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑙 appearance and the thickness of nickel coated film were
recorded in Table II and Fig 2.
B. Determination of Effective Electroplating Reaction Time
The electrolytic plating process was run 5 minutes F. Determination of Suitable Additive in Electroplating
interval continuously. Then the physical appearance and Process
thickness of coated nickel film were determined Section II- In the present research work, the construction of
A. Similarly the electroplating process was carried out by electrolytic cells and operational conditions were similarly
the following schedule of the electroplating reaction time 5 carried out by the above procedure sections (A). The pH of
minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 the electrolyte solution was kept constant at 3.5 but the
minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours and the physical additive were varied as the following schedule of
appearance and thickness of nickel coated film were concentrated sulphuric acid (2.3 g/100 cm3), concentrated
tabulated in Table II and Fig. 2. hydrochloric acid (5.2 g/100cm3) and boric acid (3.8g/ cm-
3) for each experiment.
C. Determination of Various Substrate for Nickel Plating
Process III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The required apparatus and chemicals were employed
as described in Section II-A. The construction of electrolytic The principal objective of this research work is to
cells contain electrolyte solution and operational conditions study the electrolytic nickel plating on other substrates
were similarly carried out by the above procedure Section II- (Brass, Zn-Fe alloy, Al) and examination of decorative
A. The nickel plating process was run one hour continuously properties of electrolytic nickel coated film. The following
interval but the cathodes which was coated substrate were parameters on nickel electroplating will be discussed on
varied as Iron (Fe) plate, Brass (Cu- Zn alloy) plate, Zinc- details.
Iron alloy (Zn-Fe) plate and Aluminium plate. The physical
appearance and thickness of nickel coated film were A. The Effective Electroplating Reaction Time
tabulated in Table II and Fig. 2. In this proposed work, 30 g per 100 cm3of nickel
sulphate was used in electrolyte solution. The applied cell
D. Action of Acids, Bases and Organic Solvents on Nickel voltage 2 to 3 V and the current 200 to 300 mA were applied
Coated Plate on the electroplating process. Then the experiment runs were
The prepared electrolytic nickel coated plate was performed to determine the thickness and physical
placed in a clean and dry watch glass and then 1 drop of 1M appearance to the desired electroplating reaction time 5
HCL was sported. It was kept for about 5 minutes. No minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30
chemical reaction was found to take place. Further addition minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours and the physical
of 1drop of 1M HCL to the above plate was performed. The appearance and thickness of nickel coated film were
reaction examination was recorded in Table III. Similarly tabulated in Table I. The brightness of Nickel coated film is
the other reagents 3M HCL, 6M HCL, 12M HCL, 1M good result with increasing the electroplating reaction time.
H2SO4, 3M H2SO4, 12M H2SO4, 18M H2SO4, 1M But the experiment is run constant prolong time, the current
HNO3, 2M HNO3, 3M HNO3, 1M KOH ,2M KOH, 3M ampere of the electrolytic cell was rapidly increased. When
KOH, 1M HCOOH and 1M CH3COOH, 2M CH3COOH, the applied current ampere more than 300 mA, the evolution
6M CH3COOH, 7M CH3COOH were tested by the above of oxygen gas is more favourable and nickel deposition is
procedure and the results so obtained were shown in Table forbidden. If the electroplating reaction time is before 45
III. min, the applied current ampere may be constantly followed
between 200 mA to 300 mA. After 45 min, the fluxtuation
of the applied current may be occurred and it must be
needed to control the current between 200 mA to 300 mA.
The thickness of nickel coated film was recorded in Table I.

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Volume 5, Issue 5, May – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
No. Reaction Time Thickness Physical
/ min / mm Appearance
1 5 0.01 Bright
2 10 0.02 Bright
3 15 0.03 Bright
4 20 0.05 Bright
5 25 0.06 Bright
6 30 0.09 Smooth bright
7 60 0.18 Smooth bright
8 120 0.36 Smooth bright
9 180 0.54 Smooth bright
TABLE I:- Thickness of nickel coated film Obtained by Using Various Electroplating Reaction Time

B. The Effects of Electrolytic Nickel Plating on Various Substrates

Substrates which is coated surfaces were used Iron (Fe) plate, Brass (Cu- Zn alloy) plate, Zinc-Iron alloy (Zn-Fe) plate and
Aluminium plate. They are used as cathode and it must be heeded to make smooth with sandpaper and cleaning.

No. Substrate Initial thickness/ Final thickness/ Thickness of nickel Physical appearance
(cathode) mm mm coated film/mm
1 Iron(Fe) 6.05 6.23 0.18 bright
2 Brass 6.15 6.35 0.20 Smooth and bright
(Cu-Zn)
3 Zinc-iron alloy(Zn- 6.02 6.37 0.15 bright
Fe)
4 Aluminium (Al) 6.22 6.20 -0.02 -
(dissolved)
TABLE III:- Thickness and Physical Appearance of Nickel Coated Film in Various Metal Surface

resistance and increase the conductivity of the solution. The

7 thickness of nickel coated film in each substrate is in the
6
order of Brass > Fe > Zn-Fe > Al as shown in Table II and
Fig. 2.
5

4 C. Examination of Corrosion Resistance of Electrolytic

3
Nickel Coated Film
The corrosion resistance of electrolytic nickel coated
2 film was examined by treating with various concentration of
acids, alkalis and some organic solvents. Operational
1 conditions were similarly carried out by the above procedure
Fig .2:- The Thickness of Nickel Film Coated on Various
Cathodes sections II-D. The results so obtained were summarized in
Table III. From this table, it was obvious that the electrolytic
The employed operational conditions and nickel coated film was resisted by corrosion. But it cannot
electrochemical technique have been mentioned in Section be resisted to the dilute 3M HNO3.Therefore nickel plating
II-A and II-B. In the process, Brass (Cu-Zn) substrate more provides resistance to corrosion for many commonly used
thickness nickel coated film 0.02 mm was obtained and articles, example, pins, paper clips, scissors, keys, fastener,
Aluminium (Al) cannot be used as substrate for the nickel etc., as well as for materials used in food processing, the
electroplating process. The results are summarized in Table paper and pulp industries and the chemical industries which
II and Fig.2. It can be seen that Brass (Cu-Zn) substrate often are characterized by severely corrosive environments.
gives smooth, brightness and thickness nickel coated film. It
is so because the brass cathode is made to lower the

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Volume 5, Issue 5, May – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
No. Chemical tests Observation
1 Hydrochloric Acid(1M HCL, 3M HCL, 6M HCL, 12M HCL) decorrosive
2 Sulphuric Acid(1M H2 SO4, 3M H2 SO4, 12M H2 SO4, 18M H2 SO4) decorrosive
3 Nitric Acid(1M HNO3, 2M HNO3) decorrosive
4 Nitric Acid(3M HNO3) corrosive
5 Sodium hydroxide(1M NaOH, 2M NaOH, 3M NaOH) decorrosive
6 Potassium hydroxide(1M KOH ,2M KOH, 3M KOH) decorrosive
7 Formic Acid(1M HCOOH) decorrosive
8 Acetic Acid(1M CH3COOH, 2M CH3COOH, 6M CH3COOH, 7M CH3COOH) decorrosive

TABLE IIIII.:- Corrosion Resistance of Electrolytic Nickel Coated Film

IV. CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES

As mentioned in the experimental section, the iron [1]. S. M. Sung-Ting C, Hsien-Chung H, Szu-Jung P,
substrate was coated with nickel by using the electroplating Wen-Ta T, Pee-Yew L, Chung-Hsin Y, Mau-Bin W,
process. The advantages and disadvantages of experiments “Material characterization and corrosion performance
were also scrutinized in the section of results and of nickel electroplated in supercritical CO 2 fluid”,
discussions. The electrolytic nickel plating was carried out Journal of Corrosion Science, vol. 9, pp. 2614-2619,
by using nickel anode and the substrate metal (Fe) cathode June 2008.
in the presence of boric acid additive. The electrodes must [2]. https://www.dorsetware.com/types-nickel-plating/
be needed to clean by the suitable methods before set up the [3]. Abner Brenner and Grace E. Riddell, “Nickel Plating
electrical connection. The applied voltage 2-3V and applied on Steel by Chemical Reduction”, Journal of Research
current 200-300 mA must be applied from the transformer of the National Bureau of Standards, vol. 37, pp. 31-
which gives a maximum constant 12 V D.C out- put. The 36, July 2011.
good results of electrolytic nickel plating was obtained in [4]. N. V. Mandich and A. E. Fellow, “Surface Preparation
result tables. Electrolyte nickel plating occurs at the cathode of Metals Prior to Plating”, The Annual Conference
surface, therefore, the electrode potential of cathode and Exhibition of the American Electroplaters and
substrate must be lower or nearly equal to the electrode Surface Finishers Society, pp.761-767, 2012.
potential of nickel. Brass (Cu-Zn) alloy cathode substrate is [5]. Jian Song, Liang liang Wang, Andre Zibart
given the good results for the nickel plating among other andChristian Koch, “Corrosion Protection of
cathodes of aluminium (Al), iron (Fe) and zinc-iron alloy Electrically Conductive Surfaces”, Journal of Metals,
(Zn-Fe). The thickness of nickel coated film in each vol. 2, pp. 551-556, 2012.
substrate are in the order of Brass > Fe > Zn-Fe > Al. [6]. K. S. Beenakumari, “Electroplating of Nickel on
Aluminium (Al) metal cannot be used for the electrolytic Nickel Titanate Modified Mild Steel Surface”, Journal
nickel plating process as cathode. of Electrochemical Science and Technology, vol.4,
pp.57-63, July 2013.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT [7]. Oluranti Sadiku-Agboola, Emmanuel Rotimi Sadiku
and Olusesan Frank Biotidara, “The properties and the
The author would like to express our sincere gratitude effect of operating parameters on nickel plating”,
to Rector Dr Maung Maung Latt (Technological University, International Journal of the Physical Sciences, vol. 7,
Toungoo) for his kind provision and submission of this pp. 349 - 360, January, 2014.
paper. [8]. A. Sosa Domínguez, J. J. Pérez Bueno1, I. Zamudio
Torres and M. L. Mendoza López, “Corrosion Study of
Electroless Deposited Nickel-Phosphorus Solar
Absorber Coatings on Carbon Steel”, vol.12, pp.2987-
2992, March 2017.

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