Electroless deposition and investigation of composite coatings based on nickel or cobalt matrix, including boron nitrides as dispersoids, on polyethylene terephthalate substrate

Composite coatings, based on nickel or cobalt matrix with incorporated boron nitride particles (BN) as dispersoid, have been chemically deposited and investigated. The mass, and relative thicknesses, of the obtained composite coatings, as well as the number of co-deposited particles, depending on the type (alpha boron nitride - BN(h) or cubic boron nitride - BN(c)) and particle size of the dispersoid, as a function of dispersoid concentration in the working electrolyte and the concentration of the reducing agent in the plating electrolyte have been determined. The morphology, structure and chemical composition of the deposited coatings have been characterised by means of SEM and EDS analysis.