Electroless deposited Ni-Ce-P coatings

An alkaline bath, initially designed for electroless deposition of amorphous Ni-P coatings, is used for plating of Ni-Ce-P by introduction of Ce3+ within the range 0.001-0.006 mol. dm(-3). A decrease in both deposition rate and phosphorus content in the coating in comparison with the typical for Ni-P is observed. By means of TEM, SAED and XRD nanocrystalline and amorphous structure is revealed. Applying scanning Auger electron spectroscopy, sputter etch profiles of constituent elements are composed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, taken inside the coating, demonstrate the chemical status of coating components. The transformations during annealing are studied by differential scanning calorimetry and magnetic properties. Increased thermal stability of electroless deposited Ni-Ce-P coatings is observed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.