US3607352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electroless metal plating
Assignee: MacDermid Enthone Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-29
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Granted: 1971-09-21
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Expires: 1988-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Sensitizer solutions and sensitizer concentrates for use in forming the sensitizer solutions, utilizable in chemical reduction metal plating. The sensitizer solution comprises an acid aqueous solution containing stannous chloride, HCl, and one or more of an alpha hydroxy dicarboxylic acid and water-soluble, solution-compatible salts thereof, for example tartaric acid, present in effective amount sufficient to inhibit formation of tin oxychloride. The sensitizer solution preferably also contains nickel and/or cobalt ions as an accelerator for the reduction and deposition of the catalytic noble metal during the activating of the surface to be electrolessly plated, and a buffering agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl J Fadgen Jr
- 👤 Gary Leibowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:11
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/18; C23C18/20; C23C18/28; C23C18/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 1 also containing a minor amount, sufficient to accelerate deposition of a catalytic noble metal on a surface to be electrolessly metal plated during a subsequent activating step, of ions of a metal from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 2 also containing a buffering agent in amount sufficient to maintain the pH of the solution within the pH range of about 0.45 to about 1.00.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 1 wherein the selected material is of the formula: CHOHCOOM CHOHCOOM wherein M is -H or a solution-compatible, hydrophilic cation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 4 wherein the selected material is tartaric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 2 wherein the metal irons are divalent nickel ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 3 wherein the buffering agent is glacial acetic acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A sensitizer concentrate adapted to be mixed together with an aqueous liquid to form a ready-to-use sensitizer solution comprising an acid aqueous solution containing stannous chloride, HC1, and at least one material selected from the group consisting of an alpha hydroxy dicarboxylic acid and soluble, solution-compatible salts thereof of the formula: CHOHCOOM CHRCOOM wherein R is -H or -OH and M is -H or a solution-compatible, hydrophilic cation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 8 also containing a soluble, ionizable salt of a metal from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 9 also containing a buffering agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 8 wherein the selected material is of the formula: CHOHCOOM CHOHCOOM M is -H or a solution-compatible, hydrophilic cation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 11 wherein the selected material is tartaric acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 9 wherein the soluble ionizable metal salt is a divalent nickel salt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 10 wherein the buffering agent is glacial acetic acid.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for electrolessly metal plating an electrically nonconductive surface of an object which comprises sensitizing the nonconductive surface by contacting the surface with an acid aqueous sensitizer solution comprising stannous chloride, HC1, and a minor amount, sufficient to inhibit tin oxychloride formation, of at least one material selected from the group consisting of an alpha hydroxy dicarboxylic acid and soluble, solution-compatible salts thereof of the formula: CHOHCOOM CHRCOOM wherein R is -H or -OH and M is -H or a solution-compatible, hydrophilic cation, activating the sensitized surface, and electrolessly metal plating the activated surface by contacting the surface with a chemical reduction metal plating solution until the surface is electrically conductive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The plating method of claim 15 wherein the sensitizer solution contains as an additional ingredient a minor amount, sufficient to accelerate the deposition of a catalytic noble metal on the surface during the subsequent activating step, of ions of a metal from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The plating method of claim 16 wherein the sensitizer solution also contains a buffering agent in amount sufficient to maintain the pH of the solution within the pH range of about 0.45 to about 1.00.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the selected material is of the formula: CHOHCOOM CHOHCOOM wherein M is -H or a solution-compatible, hydrophilic cation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The plating method of claim 18 wherein the selected material is tartaric acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The plating method of claim 16 wherein the metal ions are divalent nickel ions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The plating method of claim 17 wherein the buffering agent is glacial acetic acid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The sensitizer solution of claim 5 wherein the following ingredients are present in proportions within the proportion ranges hereafter specified: Grams per literStannous chloridefrom about 36-45HC1 (37% concentration)from about 5-30Tartaric acidfrom about 1-20
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The sensitizer concentrate of claim 12 wherein the following ingredients are present in proportions within the proportion ranges hereafter specified: Grams per literStannous chloridefrom about 592-672HC1 (37% concentration)from about 384-448Tartaric acidfrom about 64-128
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-20 | 1975-03-22 | 1975-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-20 | 1979-03-22 | 1979-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-20 | 1983-03-22 | 1983-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |