Advancing structural applications of nickel electrodeposition onto additively manufactured polymers

Metal electrodeposition onto polymeric substrates yields a favorable method to produce high-quality components for injection molding and other manufacturing and engineering applications. This work examines the fundamental electrochemical mechanisms involved in the deposition of nickel from a Watts-type electrolyte. It outlines the complex interplay of electrolyte composition and process parameters to optimize deposition quality. Furthermore, this thesis contrasts traditional primary metallization methods with advanced techniques such as silver conductive paint revealing distinct advantages. Evaluations of additive-free and saccharin-enhanced Watts electrolytes demonstrate that saccharin significantly improves surface smoothness, reduces porosity, enhances hardness to over 550 HV, and increases tensile strength up to 800 MPa, although with increased brittleness address by post processing heat treatment. This work also explores novel methods of electrodeposition of nitinol binary alloy with promising composition results revealing near equal deposition by weight.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Year dc:date.available

2026

Author dc:creator

• Thompson, George W

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mahtabi Oghani, Mohammad Javad, 1982-
• Margraves, Charles H.; Ibrahim, Hamdy
• College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Additive manufacturing
• Electroplating
• Nickel--Electrometallurgy

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/1020

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-2203