Preparation of Ni-coated HfCxNy composite powders by electroless plating

Abstract

This study reports a refined electroless nickel plating strategy to achieve uniform metallic coatings on hafnium carbonitride (HfCN) powders, advancing the development of high-performance metal matrix composites. By integrating a simplified, environmentally benign protocol involving sequential cleaning, sensitization, and activation steps, we successfully synthesized Ni-coated HfCN particles with controlled interfacial properties. Systematic optimization of bath chemistry specifically, nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl₂·6H₂O, 30 g/L) and dimethylamine-borane (DMAB, 17.5 g/L)—yielded a high nickel deposition efficiency of 192.4 mg/g. Microscopic analysis confirmed the formation of a continuous, dense nickel layer (150–200 nm thickness) with homogeneous surface coverage. This meticulous control over the plating parameters ensures a robust interfacial bond with the metal matrix, crucial for enhancing the mechanical strength and thermal conductivity of the composites.