Abstract
The composition of zinc‐nickel alloy films deposited on a rotating disk electrode is analyzed in terms of a one‐dimensional transport‐reaction model. The mass‐transfer model includes the effects of migration and complexation of zinc by chloride. It is found that migration in this system can enhance the interfacial concentration of nickel deposition to levels exceeding that in the bulk solution. A simple electrode kinetics model is postulated to describe the partial current density of each metal‐reduction reaction in terms of electrode potential, interfacial concentrations, and temperature. Kinetics parameters appearing in the model are estimated from experimental deposit composition data. The resulting model can predict alloy composition over a range of plating conditions, but electrode polarization is not predicted accurately. A more complete kinetics model, describing zinc‐nickel interactions, is needed.