US3853590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroless plating solution and process
Assignee: Crown City Plating Co
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Filing: 1969-08-20
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1989-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A process and solution for electroless plating of articles with a highly-stabilized electroless plating solution while maintaining high plating rates. An article having a catalytic noble metal on its surface is first electrolessly plated with a thin coating of metal plating, and is further electrolessly plated in a solution having an inhibitor concentration which prevents plating on an article having the catalytic noble metal on its surface but does not prevent plating on an article having the thin coating of plating metal.
Inventors
- 👤 L Kadison
- 👤 E Maguire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:59
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/31; C23C18/38; C23C18/40; C23C18/405; C23C18/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
IN AN ELECTROLESS PLATING PROCESS, THE STEPS OF IMMERSING AN ARTICLE HAVING A CATALYTIC NOBLE METAL ON ITS SURFACE IN A FIRST ELECTROLESS PLATING SOLUTION TO INITIATE DEPOSITION OF THE PLATING METAL ON THE ARTICLE, REMOVING THE ARTICLE WHEN A THIN COATING OF PLATING METAL HAS BEEN DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE, AND IMMERSING THE ARTICLE IN A SECOND ELECTROLESS PLATING SOLUTION CONTAINING A PLATING METAL ELECTROLESSLY PLATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLATING METAL DEPOSITED BY SAID FIRST ELECTROLESS PLATING SOLUTION AND HAVING A CONCENTRATION OF INHIBITOR WHICH IS SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT DEPOSITION OF SAID PLATING METAL ON AN ARTICLE HAVING THE CATALYTIC NOBLE METALLIC SURFACE BUT DOES NOT PREVENT DEPOSITION OF SAID PLATING METAL ON AN ARTICLE HAVING THE THIN COATING OF PLATING METAL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
IN AN ELECTROLESS PLATING PROCESS, THE STEPS OF IMMERSING AN ARTICLE HAVING A CATALYTIC NOBLE METAL ON ITS SURFACE IN A FIRST ELECTROLESS PLATING SOLUTION TO INITIATE DEPOSITION OF THE PLATING METAL ON THE ARTICLE, REMOVING THE ARTICLE WHEN A THIN COATING OF PLATING METAL HAS BEEN DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE, AND IMMERSING THE ARTICLE IN A SECOND ELECTROLESS PLATING SOLUTION CONTAINING A PLATING METAL ELECTROLESSLY PLATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLATING METAL DEPOSITED BY SAID FIRST ELECTROLESS PLATING SOLUTION AND HAVING A CONCENTRATION OF INHIBITOR WHICH IS SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT DEPOSITION OF SAID PLATING METAL ON AN ARTICLE HAVING THE CATALYTIC NOBLE METALLIC SURFACE BUT DOES NOT PREVENT DEPOSITION OF SAID PLATING METAL ON AN ARTICLE HAVING THE THIN COATING OF PLATING METAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the article is plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plating metal is copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an electrolEss copper plating process, the steps of immersing an article having a catalytic noble metal on its surface in a first electroless copper plating solution to initiate deposition of copper on the article, removing the article when a thin coating of copper has been deposited on the surface of the article, and immersing the article in a second electroless copper plating solution having a concentration of inhibitor which is sufficient to prevent deposition of copper on an article having the catalytic noble metallic surface but does not prevent deposition of copper on an article having the thin coating of copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an electrolEss copper plating process, the steps of immersing an article having a catalytic noble metal on its surface in a first electroless copper plating solution to initiate deposition of copper on the article, removing the article when a thin coating of copper has been deposited on the surface of the article, and immersing the article in a second electroless copper plating solution having a concentration of inhibitor which is sufficient to prevent deposition of copper on an article having the catalytic noble metallic surface but does not prevent deposition of copper on an article having the thin coating of copper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process in accordance with claim 4 wherein the inhibitor is a water-soluble cyanide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second electroless copper plating solution is maintained at a substantially constant temperature within the range from 90*F to 140*F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process in accordance with claim 5 wherein the concentration of cyanide is in the range from 0.0015 to 0.24 moles per liter of solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
Process in accordance with claim 5 wherein the second solution comprises an aqueous solution including from 0.02 M to 0.15 M soluble cupric salt, from 0.03 M to 0.75 M complexing agent for cupric ions, at least 0.05 M reducing agent, an alkali hydroxide to give a pH in the range from 12 to 14, and from 0.0015 M to 0.24 M water-soluble cyanide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
In an aqueous electroless copper plating solution containing cupric ions, a complexing agent for cupric ions, a reducing agent, and a pH adjustor, the improvement which comprises including in said solution a concentration of an inhibitor which is sufficient to prevent deposition of copper on an article having a catalytic noble metallic surface but does not prevent deposition of copper on an article having a thin coating of copper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
In an aqueous electroless copper plating solution containing cupric ions, a complexing agent for cupric ions, a reducing agent, and a pH adjustor, the improvement which comprises including in said solution a concentration of an inhibitor which is sufficient to prevent deposition of copper on an article having a catalytic noble metallic surface but does not prevent deposition of copper on an article having a thin coating of copper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
Solution in accordance with claim 9 wherein the inhibitor is a water-soluble cyanide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Solution in accordance with claim 10 wherein the concentration of cyanide is in the range from 0.0015 to 0.24 moles per liter of solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
Solution in accordance with claim 9 comprising an aqueous solution including from 0.02 M to 0.15 M soluble cupric salt, from 0.03 M to 0.75 M complexing agent for cupric ions, at least 0.05 M reducing agent, an alkali hydroxide to give a pH in the range from 12 to 14, and from 0.0015 M to 0.24 M water-soluble cyanide.
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) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |