Maximilian Sieber

Calculation approach for current–potential behaviour during pulse electrodeposition based on double-layer characteristics

Abstract This paper introduces a phenomenological calculation approach for the electrolytic pulse deposition of nickel under high polarisation based on an equivalent electrical circuit. In a quasistationary state of the deposition, the electrolyte resistance and double layer parameters are identified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic polarisation. The charge–transfer resistance of both the anodic and cathodic electrode double layer is inversely proportional to the current density. This means the overpotentials over the electrode double layers are independent of the current density. For short pulse on-times and off-times (up to 10 ms), the behaviour of the electrolytic cell is mainly determined by the double layer characteristics and the calculation approach therefore allows the prediction of the current–potential behaviour during pulse deposition under high polarisation. For larger pulse widths, the time-dependent evolution of the overpotentials occurring at the electrode/electrolyte interface becomes a determining factor for the cell potential.

Anodisation with dynamic current control for tailored alumina coatings

The anodic oxidation process is commonly used to refine the surface of aluminium and its alloys. Compared to the substrate, the alumina layers produced by anodising exhibit an increased hardness and chemical resistance. Thus, the corrosion and wear resistance are generally improved. The coatings are also electrically isolating and may serve decorative purposes. Applying a time-variant, dynamic electrical process control by pulse-current or current-steps is a promising approach to improve the coating properties, which is partially deployed in an industrial scale. In the present work, the influence of dynamic electrical process control on the coating properties is examined by means of a design of experiments (DOE). The effects of various electrolyte compositions and temperatures as well as processing time are considered with regard to coating thickness, hardness, wear resistance and the electrical energy consumption during the formation of the coatings. Information about the statistical significance of the effects of the parameters on the considered properties is obtained by an analysis of variance (ANOVA).