Effect of nickel electroless plating time on the coating of SiC powder

In this study the effect of time on coating of SiC powder by electroless nickel-boron process at three temperatures of 75, 85 and 95 °C has been investigated. To study the microstructure and morphology of coated SiC powder, a scanning electron microscope equipped with an EDS analyzer was used and to determine the composition and phases of coated SiC powder, the X-ray diffraction device was used. The time and temperature of the electroless plating bath have a great influence on the amount of coating and its uniformity on the surface of SiC particles. The results show that the highest amount of nickel-boron coating on the surface of SiC particles was obtained at 45 min and 95 °C. However, the most uniform coating has been obtained at 30 min and 85 °C. Phase analysis of coated SiC samples also indicates that at the time of 30 min of electroless plating at all three temperatures of 75, 85 and 95 °C, the Ni phase also appears on the surface of the SiC particles in addition to the SiC phase and by increasing of the temperature, the intensity of Ni peaks increased.