Pure cobalt and cobalt-nickel alloys have been plated from simple electrolytic baths with and without additive and with and without ac superimposed upon the dc plating current.

X-ray analysis reveals preferred orientation in the polycrystalline deposits generally and extreme preferred orientation (characterized by [00.2] and [11.0] fiber axes) in the case of those samples obtained with additive-free electrolyte. It is shown that a change in the pH of the bath or the addition of an ac component are equally effective in determining the type of fiber axis in the deposit. The effects on plating texture owing to the use of additive KCNS in the bath are described. Finally, the correlation between the texture and the magnetic properties of the plating Is discussed.