Thin Zinc Films on Aluminum

Abstract

As part of a study of plating on aluminum, the deposition of thin zinc films on aluminum substrates was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and by electron diffraction. Zinc coatings on 99.999% aluminum were formed by immersion in aqueous solutions of sodium zincate. It was found that zinc initially forms epitaxial semicontinuous films on all aluminum principal planes. Subsequent zinc growth continued in the form of separate crystallites (2000Å diam) which grew upon the initial film while continuing to maintain the epitaxial relationship. Using dark field transmission electron microscopy in combination with electron diffraction, it was found that Zn: (0001) <100>//Al (100) <010>, Zn: (0001) <100>//Al (10) <111>, and Zn: (0001) <110>// Al (111) <10>.