Studies Regarding Nickel Electrodeposition from Watts Bath with Addition of Polyvinylpyrrolidone and Sodium Saccharine

Abstract

This paper is based on some studies about the influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium saccharine as far as concern their influence on the nickel electroplating processes from Watts bath. PVP is a wetting agent which improves the quality of deposited layers. Sodium saccharine is a leveling agent which improves adherence and brightness of the deposited layers. PVP actions through the inhibition of adsorption of (NiOH)⁺ species on the cathode surface. Sodium saccharine controls crystals growth on the electro-crystallization process. Our results are able to promote using of these additives for future commercial applications. SEM-EDX techniques and optical microscopy were used with the aim to emphasize the uniformity, the continuality and the micro-structural granularity of the electrodeposited layers,, correlated with chemical composition and metallic brightness, through absorption spectroscopy.