Bright zinc–cobalt alloy deposits from an alkaline non-cyanide bath

Abstract

Cobalt ions were added to a non-cyanide alkaline zinc bath to produce an alloy of zinc containing 0·6–0·8%Co. Bright deposits were produced using organic additives. The effect of different parameters such as cobalt concentration, current density, complexant concentration, additive concentration, temperature, agitation, etc. on the composition of the alloy and current efficiency was studied. Structural characterisation using scanning electron microscopy showed that the deposits are nanocrystalline.