Stress measurements in nanocrystalline Ni electrodeposits

X-ray diffraction method was used to assess the internal stresses in nanocrystalline nickel coatings electrodeposited onto various substrates. In addition, internal stresses in nanocrystalline nickel deposits without substrates were also investigated using the same technique. The preferred orientation of nanocrystalline nickel deposits was found unaffected by substrate type and bath addition. All deposits showed that compressive internal stresses are present. The substrate type was found to affect the magnitude of internal stresses in these deposits. Furthermore, compared with microcrystalline coatings, the nanoprocessed deposits contained higher compressive stresses. The addition of small amounts of sodium lauryl sulphonate to a saccharin-containing Watts' bath was found to decrease the internal stresses in deposits. It is concluded that nanoprocessed Ni-coatings are strong contenders for applications requiring high fatique strength of the underlying substrate metal.