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Electroless cobalt plating

I am experience particles problems in an electroless cobalt plating solution. It was found cobalt not only deposited on a copper substrate but also formed in the solution and attached on substrate surface. If I want cobalt only deposited on substrate, what should I do ?

TZ

Ting Zhong
- Portland, Oregon
2003

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2003

An electroless plating solution is more accurately called an autocatalytic plating solution, meaning that the deposition of cobalt is catalyzed by the cobalt plated surface. I don't believe that it would be normal for electroless cobalt plating to spontaneously start on a copper surface. Normally you would need to give the copper a spark of charge, or at least place it in contact with a catalytic surface like iron or cobalt before plating would commence. So your concentration of cobalt or reducers might possibly be much too high, expediting spontaneous plate-out.

The thing to do is to buy a commercial electroless cobalt plating solution, not make it from scratch.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

I have searched for a commercial provider of an autocatalytic cobalt solution and have not had much luck. Is there one that you are aware of?

Ryan Turner
- Dallas, Texas
June 12, 2009

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Hi, Ryan. I thought it was commercially available, but I could be wrong. I would suggest checking with Technic, and with the suppliers of electroless nickel processes like Palm International. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 27, 2009