Copper used to be the main material used as electroforming bath for its stability. However, the functional requirements for its physical metallurgy are becoming more important alongside the spread of electroforming.

Nickel has superior physical and mechanical strength with the enhanced resistance to corrosion and abrasion. A new technology established has allowed us to adjust physical and mechanical characteristics such as hardness, stress in electrodeposits, and flexibility of electroformed nickel in a broader range.

In addition, nickel aminosulfonate enabled electroforming while minimizing stress in electrodeposits at high current density. The physical and mechanical characteristics have been improved not only under normal temperature but also at high temperature by the alloying techniques of using cobalt or various metals, as well as the composite method where fine particles made of hard materials as fine ceramics are dispersed for causing a eutectoid reaction. Owing to this improvement, electroforming is now applied in a wide range of fields including accessories, fine arts and crafts, electronic and ultraprecise components.

The following measures must be implemented in order to meet the required characteristics:

(1)The material must be strong and durable enough for the designated purposes since electroformed objects are used as metal products.
(2)In order to prevent stress corrosion, metal fatigue, product warpages or cracks, the stress in electrodeposits must be zero or extremely small.
(3)In many cases, the electrodeposited layers tend to be thick. To reduce the electrolysis time, electrodeposition must take place at high speed using high current density. This will increase the electrical charges flown into the electroforming bath, but the solution must be stable under this condition.
(4)To make the additional processing of electroformed products easier or to obtain homogeneous strength, the thickness and metallic structure of the electrodeposited layer must be consistent.

[Table 1] summarizes the points of concern for adopting the electroforming technology.

[Table 1] Characteristics of electroforming