Effects of heat treatments on the ductility of cobalt electrodeposits

Article abstract of DOI:10.1023/A:1017569316182

The effects of annealing treatments on the structure and mechanical properties of cobalt electrodeposits have been studied. Annealing temperatures range from 250-800°C, i.e. below, as well as above, the allotropic α-h c p ? β-f c c transformation temperature (417°C). The structural characterization included hydrogen content measurement, relative volume fraction of α and β phases determination by X-ray diffraction, and microstructural investigations by optical and electron microscopy. The results showed that an annealing is a very effective means to optimize the ductility of cobalt electrodeposits. The increase of ductility observed after annealing is essentially due to a decrease of the stacking fault density in the deposits. Annealing treatment above the allotropic transformation temperature also produces, in some deposits, an increase of the ductile β-f c c phase content, but this fact does not lead to supplementary improvements of ductility. This is due to the detrimental influence of hydrogen that always exists in these deposits.