Bath Composition and Deposition Rate of the Electroless Plating of Nickel-Iron Alloy

The electroless deposition of nickel-iron alloy has been investigated. The bath was less stable than an electroless nickel bath due to the formation of ferrous or ferric hydroxide precipitates. Gluconate ion was one of the best complexing agents for stabilizing the bath. L-ascorbic acid is a mild reducing agent and inhibited the formation of ferric ions in the bath. The deposition rate decreased with increasing ferrous sulfate content but it was possible to increase the rate by adding glycine. Other plating parameters that affect the deposition rate and the composition of the deposits were also investigated and it was possible to obtain films containing up to 20% iron using dimethyl amine borane as the reducing agent.