Manufacturing microporous foam zinc materials with high porosity by electrodeposition

Abstract

In order to get foam zinc materials of porous metal electrode, a novel method for preparing foam zinc was proposed, in which the polyurethane foam with diameter of 0.3 mm as substrate was processed by degreasing, roughening, activating, electroless plating and electrodeposition. The main factors affecting the process, such as ZnSO₄ content, temperature, pH value, current density, and electrodes distance, were investigated comprehensively. The optimal process conditions are 250 g/L ZnSO₄, 20 g/L Al₂(SO₄)₃, 40 g/L KAl(SO₄)₂, 30 g/L Na₂SO₄, pH=3.5, 4.0 cm of electrodes distance and 0.04 A/cm² current density at 30 °C. The result shows that adding ultrasonic on the process can elevate the deepening plating ability and current efficiency. Foam zinc material with a high porosity of 92.2% and a three-dimensional network structure can be fabricated by electrodeposition.

Keywords

electrodeposition / foam zinc / microporous / high porosity

References

[1] Degischer H., Kriszt B. Handbook of Cellular Metals: Production, Processing, Applications[M], 2002 Weinheim Wiley-VCH

[2] Tian Q. H., Guo X. Y., Xue P., . Electro-deposition for Foamed Zinc Material from Zinc Sulfate Solution [J]. Materials Science Forum, 2007, 561–565(3): 1 669-1 672.

[3] Zhou X. Y., Li S. N., Li J., . Preparation of Precursor for Stainless Steel Foam[J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology (English Edition), 2008, 15(2): 209-213.

[4] Zhou K. C., Yuan T. C., Li R. D., . Electrocatalytic Properties of Ni-S-Co Coatings Electrodeposited on Nickel Foam Substrate for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Medium [J]. Journal of Central South University(Science and Technology), 2007, 38(2): 186-189.

[5] Yang S. Y. Study on the Technology of Penetrating Casting for Aluminium Foam [J]. Powder Metallurgy Technology, 2006, 24(4): 291-294.

[6] Yang Y. J., Han F. S. Damping Behaviors of Open Cell Pure Al Foams Fabricated by Sintering and Dissolution Process [J]. Powder Metallurgy, 2007, 50(3): 239-242.

[7] Neville B. P., Rabiei A. Composite Metal Foams Processed Through Powder Metallurgy [J]. Materials and Design, 2008, 29(2): 388-396.

[8] Ma L. W., Chen B. Z., Chen Y., . Pitch-based Carbon Foam Electrodeposited with Lead as Positive Current Collectors for Lead Acid Batteries [J]. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2009, 39(9): 1 609-1 615.

[9] Liu P. S., Liang K. M., Gu S. R., . Substrate Materials of Porous Metal Electrode [J]. Chinese Journal of Rare Metals, 2000, 24(6): 440-444.

[10] Zhao D. J., Cai Y. Preparation of Foamed Nickel Material with Electrodeposition Technique [J]. Plating & Finishing, 2001, 23(4): 9-11.

[11] Tian Q. H. Electrodeposition for Manufacturing Foamed Zinc Material [D], 2007 Changsha Central South University

[12] Banhart J. Manufacture, Characterisation and Application of Cellular Metals and Metal Foams [J]. Progress in Materials Science, 2001, 46: 559-632.

[13] Balachandran R., Yow H. K., Ong B. H., . Effects of Ultrasonic Field in Pulse Electrodeposition of NiFe Film on Cu Substrate [J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2009, 481(1–2): 336-339.