Nanocrystalline soft ferromagnetic Ni–Co–P thin film on Al alloy by low temperature electroless deposition

Abstract Soft ferromagnetic ternary Ni–Co–P films were deposited onto Al 6061 alloy from low temperature Ni–Co–P electroless plating bath. The effect of deposition parameters, such as time and pH, on the plating rate of the deposit were examined. The results showed that the plating rate is a function of pH bath and the highest coating thickness can be obtained at pH value from 8 to10. The surface morphology, phase structure and the magnetic properties of the prepared films have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and vibrating magnetometer device (VMD), respectively. The deposit obtained at optimum conditions showed compact and smooth with nodular grains structure and exhibited high magnetic moments and low coercivety. Potentiodynamic polarization corrosion tests were used to study the general corrosion behavior of Al alloys, Ni–P and Ni–Co–P coatings in 3.5% NaCl solution. It was found that Ni–Co–P coated alloy demonstrated higher corrosion resistance than Ni–P coating containing same percent of P due to the Co addition. The Ni–Co–P coating with a combination of high corrosion resistance, high hardness and excellent magnetic properties would be expected to enlarge the applications of the aluminum alloys.