Nickel plating of ASTM A105 steel using electroless plating technique: investigation of heat treament on micro-structure, corrosion resistance and hardness.

There is a tremendous interest on the studies related with the metal coating of surfaces. The coating type, properties of substrates and intervention against corrosion are the most important parameters for the development of coating technology. Metallic coatings are divided into current and electroless plating. the substrate to be coated and used area is checked and characterized in the coating processes. Electroless plating are preferred due to its easly application for the complicated and complex structures and also homogen surface obtained after plating process. Uniformity of electroless nickel plating is excelent. The aim of the this thesis is to investigate the effects on the heat treatment on the ASTM A105 steel surface coated with nickel by electroless plating. The changes on the surfaces were investigated by using the XRD, SEM, salt test, measure of thikness techniques. Experimental study includes the establishment of a new plating bath (Ni-P), the analysis process, the coating of steel material, the heat treatment (450 ° C for 1 hour) and testing process. It was observed that a more rigid structured nicel layer occured, the corrosion resistance of that reduced, the surface morphology shifted from amorphous to crystalline sturucture and the thickness of the coating layer decreased after heat treatment.