Influence of some operating parameters on the electroplating of cobalt from acetate baths

The electroplating of cobalt on to steel substrates from acidic baths containing cobalt acetate and acetic acid has been studied for the influences of bath composition, current density and temperature. The influences of these parameters on the potentiodynamic cathodic polarization, cathodic current efficiency, anodic stripping voltammetry and the throwing power of these baths have been investigated. The surface morphology of the as-plated cobalt was examined by scanning electron microscopy and the crystal structure by X-ray diffraction.