A Preliminary Investigation of the Formation of Cracks in Hard Chromium Electrodeposits and the Evolution of Hydrogen During Deposition

Abstract

Experiments are described in which the cathode in a chromium deposition cell is observed continuously at high magnification whilst deposition is taking place. It is shown that the release of bubbles of hydrogen from the surface of the cathode is a discontinuous process occurring for well defined periods at regular intervals of time. Periodic cracking of the surface of the cathode has been observed and is found to be associated with the discontinuous evolution of hydrogen.