Electron spectroscopy of chromium deposits from trivalent and hexavalent chromium baths

Abstract

Chromium deposits from trivalent and hexavalent chromium baths have shown some characteristic differences in physical and chemical properties and their operational conditions. The color of deposits from the trivalent chromium bath is grayish as compared with the chromic acid bath. A thick chromium layer is difficult to obtain from the trivalent, but not the hexavalent chromium bath. In operation, current interruption is not critical for the trivalent bath, but it is very sensitive in hexavalent chromium baths. In this report, an ESCA technique was used to investigate the surface properties of chromium deposits from trivalent and hexavalent chromium baths. From the findings, some qualitative explanations are proposed.