Microstructure and magnetic properties of SiC/Co composite particles prepared by electroless plating

SiC/Co composite particles with a core-shell structure were successfully prepared by electroless plating of cobalt on the surface of SiC particles. It is found that the mass gain and reaction duration of electroless plating process are evidently affected by the initial pH value and bath temperature. Content of amorphous cobalt in the plating layer increases with the increase of the initial pH value and the bath temperature. Saturation magnetization of the composite particles rests on the mass gain, and the coercivity is determined by the microstructure of the plating layer.