Non-electrolytic Deposition of Silver on Tungsten Powders for Functionally Gradient Composite Powder

Particles of high strength material when coated with silver offer a means of obtaining desirable electrical properties and high strength. The coating process employed aqueous ammoniacal silver-nitrate electrolytes with a formaldehyde solution as the reductant. Modifying additives were also applied. The reduction and subsequent deposition of silver occurred selectively on the surface of the tungsten particles. The morphologies of the coated particles were assessed by SEM imaging. The silver was uniformed coated on tungsten powder and its thickness was estimated to be approximately 100nm on the basis of a mass account.