Adhesion of electrolessly deposited nickel on lead zirconate titanate ceramic

This paper reports on electrolessly deposited Ni onto lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic measured as a function of both the ceramics surface preparation prior to metalization and the plated Ni thickness. A maximum in Ni/PZT interfacial adhesion of approximately 27 kg/cm2, as measured by a pull test, occurs when the ceramic grain boundaries are chemically etched, thereby providing points to mechanically anchor the Ni deposit. The adhesion decreases with over-etching as the ceramic grains are undercut and drops off dramatically with increasing plated Ni thickness