US3876434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Replenishment of electroless nickel solutions
Assignee: Shipley Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-23
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1994-01-23
Abstract
Abstract This invention concerns replenishment of aqueous electroless nickel plating solutions and to apparatus useful therefor. The process of the invention comprises addition of replenishers in essentially dry form in a manner that avoids triggering of the bath. Typical replenishers that may be added in dry form include one or more of a soluble source of nickel ions such as nickel chloride, a reducing agent for nickel ions, bath stabilizers, brighteners, surfactants and the like. These ingredients may be added singularly or admixed with each other. Essentially dry materials are used for replenishment rather than a solution as in the prior art, to prevent volume growth of the plating solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Oleh Borys Dutkewych
- 👤 Lebert Arthur Hoffmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:33
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1617
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
IN A METOD FOR REPLENISHING AN ELECTROLESS NICKEL PLATING SOLUTION COMPRISING NICKEL IONS, A SOURCE OF HYPOPHOSPHITE REDUCING AGENT AND A COMPLEXING AGENT TO MAINTAIN SAID NICKEL IONS IN SOLUTION, WITH AT LEAST ONE OR MORE REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS IN ESSENTIALLY DRY FORM, SAID REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS BEING SELECTED FROM A GROUP OF SOLUBLE NICKEL SALTS, A SOURCE OF HYPOPHOSPHITE, STABILIZERS AND MIXTURES THEREOF, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING MAINTAINING SAID SOLUTION STABLE, ADDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY DISSOLVING SAID REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS BENEATH THE LEVEL OF SAID PLATING SOLUTION WHILE MAINTAINING SAID ESSENTIALLY DRY REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS SUBSTANTIALLY OUT OF CONTACT WITH AIR AND THE SURFACE OF THE PLATING SOLUTION AND AVOIDING LOCALIZED AREAS OF HIGH CONCENTRATION OF THE REPLENISHER CON-
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
IN A METOD FOR REPLENISHING AN ELECTROLESS NICKEL PLATING SOLUTION COMPRISING NICKEL IONS, A SOURCE OF HYPOPHOSPHITE REDUCING AGENT AND A COMPLEXING AGENT TO MAINTAIN SAID NICKEL IONS IN SOLUTION, WITH AT LEAST ONE OR MORE REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS IN ESSENTIALLY DRY FORM, SAID REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS BEING SELECTED FROM A GROUP OF SOLUBLE NICKEL SALTS, A SOURCE OF HYPOPHOSPHITE, STABILIZERS AND MIXTURES THEREOF, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING MAINTAINING SAID SOLUTION STABLE, ADDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY DISSOLVING SAID REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS BENEATH THE LEVEL OF SAID PLATING SOLUTION WHILE MAINTAINING SAID ESSENTIALLY DRY REPLENISHER CONSTITUENTS SUBSTANTIALLY OUT OF CONTACT WITH AIR AND THE SURFACE OF THE PLATING SOLUTION AND AVOIDING LOCALIZED AREAS OF HIGH CONCENTRATION OF THE REPLENISHER CON-
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 where the solution is maintained stable by replenishment with a stabilizer prior to or during replenishment with at least the nickel salt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 where the solution is maintained stable by use of an excess of a non-poisoning stabilizing agent in the original solution make-up.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 where the localized areas of high concentration of replenisher constitutents are avoided and rapid dissolution of constituents is accomplished with solution agitation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 where the replenisher constituents are added directly to the plating solution beneath the level of the plating solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 1 where said replenisher constituents are added and substantially dissolved beneath the level of the plating solution by circulating a minor portion of the plating solution external to the major portion of said solution, through a mass of said replenisher constituents to substantially dissolve the same whereby the replenisher constituents are maintained substantially out of contact with the surface of the plating solution, and recirculating said minor portion of solution enriched in replenisher constituents back to the major portion of said solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 where said minor portion of solution is passed through said replenisher constituents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 where said minor portion of solution has its speed increased through said replenisher constituents by imparting a swirling motion to said minor portion of solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 where said replenisher comprises a mixture of soluble nickel salt and a source of hypophosphite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 where said replenisher comprises a mixture of a soluble nickel salt, a source of hypophosphite and a minor amount of a stabilizing agent for the plating solution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2929742A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |