Abstract
The effects of current density, particle concentration, and agitation on Ni-γAl2O3 composite electrodeposition have been investigated and a comparison made to the deposition of pure nickel using a rotating disk electrode. The nickel deposition efficiency and nickel polarization behavior are both substantially altered by the presence of alumina particles in the bath. Troughs in the nickel efficiency and kinks in the nickel polarization curves were observed which were not present during the deposition of pure nickel. The appearance of anomalous behavior in these measurements coincides with the appearance of a peak in particle incorporation into the film. This behavior has been ascribed to competition between the charge-transfer controlled nickel deposition reaction, and the mass-transfer limitation of the alumina deposition process at high currents. © 1994, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. All rights reserved.