Palladium-Nickel Alloy Electrodeposition Using Ethylenediamine as Complexing Agent

Electrodeposition behaviors of Pd-Ni alloys were investigated from the polarization curves in a solution containing ethylenediamine as complexing agent. The microstructure and hardness of electrodeposited Pd-Ni alloys were also characterized. Codeposition of Pd-Ni alloys was successfully performed in the wide current density ranging from 2 to $5000A{\cdot}m^{-2}$ because the deposition potential of Pd became close to that of Ni in the ethylenediamine-contained solution. It was also found from X-ray diffraction patterns that the solid solution between Pd and Ni was formed with variation of the composition of alloys. The measured hardness of Pd-Ni alloys increased with increasing the contents of Ni due to solid solution strengthening and grain refinement. The electrodeposited Pd-Ni alloys also exhibited a crack free smooth surface morphology from the SEM observation.