Influence of Electroplating Time on the Hardness Properties of Nickel-Coated Aluminum

Margono Margono (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi “Warga” Surakarta, Sukoharjo 57552, Indonesia)
Cavin Dwi Prasetyo (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi “Warga” Surakarta, Sukoharjo 57552, Indonesia)
Moch Chamim (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi “Warga” Surakarta, Sukoharjo 57552, Indonesia)
Deni Andriyansyah (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi “Warga” Surakarta, Sukoharjo 57552, Indonesia)
Bondan Wiratmoko Budi Santoso (Department of Mechanical and Machine Design Engineering, Politeknik ATMI Surakarta, Surakarta 57145. Indonesia)
Deslana Avinda Krisna Putra (Center of Excellence for Plastic Technology, Politeknik ATMI Surakarta, Surakarta 57145. Indonesia)
Arif Surono (Automotive Engineering Technology, Politeknik Indonusa Surakarta, Surakarta 57142. Indonesia)
Hassan Khamis Hassan (Zanzibar Water Authority – ZAWA, P.O.Box 460, Mabluu – Zanzibar, Tanzania)

Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Science, and Innovation
Vol 6, No 1 (2026): (April)

This study investigates the effect of electroplating duration on the hardness and coating thickness of nickel layers deposited on aluminum substrates. Nickel electroplating was performed with immersion times of 17, 34, 51, and 68 min to evaluate the correlation between deposition time, microstructural development, and mechanical enhancement. Microstructural analysis revealed a progressive increase in coating thickness from 3 μm, 7 μm, 11 μm, to a maximum of 44 μm as plating duration increased. Correspondingly, surface hardness exhibited a substantial rise, with untreated aluminum showing 69.44 HV, while electroplated specimens achieved 118.32 HV, 191.32 HV, 258.40 HV, and 418.62 HV, respectively. This increase of up to 502% demonstrates that longer electroplating durations produce denser and finer nickel microstructures, contributing significantly to surface strengthening. The findings confirm that nickel electroplating is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical performance and surface quality of aluminum, with deposition time serving as a critical parameter in optimizing coating characteristics.