Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating on graphite powder

Electroless deposition technique was used to coat Ni-P on graphite particles with high deposition rate and bath stability by activating the graphite powder in a furnace at 380 °C for 1 h. The effect of plating time, size of the powder and weight of the powder were studied. It was found that by a simple and controlled plating method a uniform and continuous layer of nickel could be deposited on the surface of graphite particles. Scanning electron microscopy images and EDS spectra before and after electroless nickel plating confirm that nickel is deposited on the surface of graphite particles. The rate of increase in weight percent nickel over graphite decreases with time and reaches a plateau. Further increase in weight is attained by plating the same powders in a fresh bath to obtain desired Ni-P alloy mass.