Study of citrate gold plating by different pulse modes with and without vibration
Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials
ISSN: 0003-5599
Article publication date: 12 July 2022
Issue publication date: 4 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the optimum average current density and pulse width for electrodeposition of gold in citrate electrolyte, and it is verified that the uniformity of film thickness can be effectively improved by periodic pulse reverse electroplating.
Design/methodology/approach
Apply forward pulse current, forward group pulse current and periodic pulse reverse current to the electrolyte and compare the film quality. High-frequency group pulses are used in both forward and reverse directions of the periodic pulse reverse current.
Findings
It is verified by experiments that periodic pulse reverse plating is superior to forward pulse plating and forward group pulse plating in terms of particle size, compactness, impurity content and thickness uniformity of the film. Add low-frequency vibration to the cathode under the same pulse electrical parameters as a comparative experiment to prove the beneficial effect of vibration on the allowable limiting current density and plating rate.
Originality/value
Gold film is often used as the sealing layer of precision parts. Increasing the thickness uniformity and improving the compactness of gold film will help to reduce the size error, improve the subsequent assembly accuracy and increase the service life of wear-resistant layer. Citrate gold plating electrolyte combines the advantages of cyanide electrolyte and cyanide-free electrolyte. Hence, this research focuses on the characteristics of periodic pulse reverse plating in terms of particle size, compactness, impurity content and thickness uniformity of the film and compare it with forward pulse plating and forward group pulse plating.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding information: The work was supported by Sichuan Province Department of Science and Technology Key R&D Project (No. 21ZDYF3793).
Citation
Dai, Y., Wang, Q., Zhang, Y., Liu, G., Zhang, L. and Wang, F. (2022), "Study of citrate gold plating by different pulse modes with and without vibration", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 69 No. 5, pp. 524-531. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-03-2022-2626
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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