Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An aqueous electroplating bath capable of depositing an alloy consisting essentially of 0.001- 0.30 wt. % nickel and the balance tin, said bath consisting essentially of (a) a nickel salt selected from nickel sulfate, nickel fluoborate and nickel sulfamate, (b) a corresponding tin salt, (c) sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, benzene sulfonic acid or fluoboric acid in an amount providing a pH of not higher than 1, and (d) an effective amount of a brightening agent, wherein the concentration of said tin salt is at least about 1 oz./gal. and the weight ratio of said nickel salt to said tin salt is at least 0.20 to 1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An aqueous electroplating bath capable of depositing an alloy consisting essentially of 0.001- 0.30 wt. % nickel and the balance tin, said bath consisting essentially of (a) a nickel salt selected from nickel sulfate, nickel fluoborate and nickel sulfamate, (b) a corresponding tin salt, (c) sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, benzene sulfonic acid or fluoboric acid in an amount providing a pH of not higher than 1, and (d) an effective amount of a brightening agent, wherein the concentration of said tin salt is at least about 1 oz./gal. and the weight ratio of said nickel salt to said tin salt is at least 0.20 to 1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A bath as in claim 1 wherein the nickel salt is nickel sulfate, the tin salt is stannous sulfate, the acid is sulfuric acid, the brightener is N-benzyltrimethyl ammonium bromide or hydroxide, and the concentration of the stannous sulfate is about 1-7 oz./gal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A bath as in claim 1 wherein the nickel salt is nickel fluoborate, the tin salt is stannous fluoborate, the acid is fluoboric acid, the brightener is N-benzyltrimethyl ammonium bromide or hydroxide, and the concentration of the stannous fluoborate is about 1-7 oz./gal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of coating a metallic substrate so as to provide the properties of a gold coating thereon but without utilizing gold, which comprises electrolytically contacting the said substrate with the electroplating bath of claim 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein an anode is utilized consisting essentially of nickel, platinum or platinum-plated titanium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of coating a metallic substrate so as to provide the properties of a gold coating thereon but without utilizing gold, which comprises electrolytically contacting the said substrate with the electroplating bath of claim 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of coating a metallic substrate so as to provide the properties of a gold coating thereon but without utilizing gold, which comprises electrolytically contacting the said substrate with the electroplating bath of claim 3.