Summary for boron 10 plating options Discussion
Boron 10 plating options are limited, and the thread suggests there is no common aqueous process for depositing boron metal directly onto aluminum. In response to Freddie York’s question about a small aluminum part needing about 1 µm thickness control, the answerer says they are aware of one molten-salt method using potassium fluoborate in a bath of potassium fluoride and potassium chloride. They also recommend considering PVD, CVD, or sputtering as alternative deposition routes. The answerer adds that boron can be co-deposited with other metals, such as nickel, in electroless nickel systems that use sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. Overall, the discussion frames the problem as one where process selection may matter more than a straightforward plating bath, and it points to vapor-deposition or specialty molten-salt approaches as the most plausible starting points.
Q. Hi,
Currently I am trying to find out what options I have to plate boron 10 onto aluminum. The piece would be rather small (8 X 8 cm) with no parts going above 32 X 32 cm. The thickness needs to be well controlled and in the 1 µm range. Again, I don’t really know what options are out there so a good starting point would be almost as good as the definitive answer.
Thanks
Freddie York
– Oak Ridge, Tennessee
June 5, 2012
A. I have never come across an aqueous process that deposits boron metal, although I am aware of one that deposits it from potassium fluoborate dissolved in a molten salt bath of potassium fluoride and potassium chloride. You may also want to consider PVD or CVD deposition, or even sputtering.I know boron is co-deposited with other metals, such as nickel, when using electroless nickel with a boron additive such as sodium borohydride as the reducing agent.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
June 15, 2012