Underlayered and Multilayered Electrodeposits

The use of layered electrodeposits has a long and important history but in the last 15 years the means of substantially enhancing a number of deposit properties through solution formulation and current modulation has been identified, developed, and exploited. The next few years are likely to see further advances, notably in the more widespread usage of multilayering throughout the electroplating industry. When it is further recognized that, in the realm of nanotechnology, layering is merely one method of enhancing properties a new approach to composite coatings will be inevitable. (Materials noted: Cu-Ni alloys, nickel, zinc alloys; substrate material: carbon steels.)