抄録
The processes of electroless plating of nickel and cobalt from the baths containing hypophosphite as reducing agent are well established. Whereas, there have been no reliable reports on electroless plating of iron from this type of baths. The problem was solved in the present study using a strong alkaline solution containing high concentration of potassium sodium tartrate as complexing agent. Practically available iron coatings containing about 0.2% of phosphorus were deposited only by a autocatalytic electroless plating reaction. Phosphor bronze, copper, iron, and copper coated with electroless-deposited nickel were used for substrates, which were beforehand sensitized by dipping in palladium chloride solution. It was confirmed by magnetic measurement that the iron coating thus obtained consisted of crystallites of α-iron, though there were no peaks observed in the X-ray diffraction pattern. The deposition rates were very slow on the substrates such as platinum coated with electrodeposited palladium, plastics, and single crystals of magnesia, alumina, and silica. The following metals could be co-deposited with iron from the baths: nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic.
