US4033835A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tin-nickel plating bath
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1975-10-14
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1995-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and electrolyte for electrodepositing a corrosion -- resistant, soft and ductile tin -- nickel alloy. A typical electrolyte is an aqueous solution of tin salts, nickel salts, thiourea, sodium hypophosphite, hydrochloric acid, and ammonium chloride and has a pH of 0.7 to 1.5.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis Brian Lerner
- 👤 Thomas Francis Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:16
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D3/00; C25D3/02; C25D3/56; C25D3/60; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3465; H05K3/3473
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for depositing tin-nickel alloys from an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising electrolyzing said solution which contains nickel, as metal, in the amount from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter as a soluble nickel salt, tin from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter as a soluble tin, salt a thiourea in the amount from 10 to 100 grams per liter, sodium, ammonium or potassium hypophosphite in an amount from 10 to 100 grams per liter, hydrochloric acid from 30 to 100 millimeters per liter based on a concentration of 36 percent to 38 percent and ammonium, sodium, or potassium chloride from 40 to 200 grams per liter, said solution being at a pH from 0.7 to 1.5 and at a temperature from 100° to 170° F., depositing said tin-nickel alloy on a work piece, and recovering said work piece with the alloy deposited thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for depositing tin-nickel alloys from an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising electrolyzing said solution which contains nickel, as metal, in the amount from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter as a soluble nickel salt, tin from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter as a soluble tin, salt a thiourea in the amount from 10 to 100 grams per liter, sodium, ammonium or potassium hypophosphite in an amount from 10 to 100 grams per liter, hydrochloric acid from 30 to 100 millimeters per liter based on a concentration of 36 percent to 38 percent and ammonium, sodium, or potassium chloride from 40 to 200 grams per liter, said solution being at a pH from 0.7 to 1.5 and at a temperature from 100° to 170° F., depositing said tin-nickel alloy on a work piece, and recovering said work piece with the alloy deposited thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the operating temperature is from 130° to 160° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the bath also contains a wetting agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 3 wherein a sodium alkyl sulfate is added as a wetting agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein ammonium or potassium hypophosphite is used.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the nickel salt is nickel chloride, tin salt is tin chloride or tin bromide, a thiourea is thiourea, the hypophosphite is sodium hypophosphite, and as chloride, ammonium chloride is used.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the electrolyzed solution is electrolyzed at a current density of from 5 ASF up to 300 ASF.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
An aqueous electrolyte suitable for electrodeposition of tin-nickel alloys from said electrolyte, said aqueous electrolyte comprising nickel as nickel chloride, based on the metal, in an amount from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter, tin as tin chloride (SnCl 2 .sup.. H 2 O) based on the metal from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter, thiourea from 10 to 100 grams per liter, sodium hypophosphite from 10 to 100 grams per liter, hydrochloric acid from 30 to 100 milliliters per liter as a concentrated acid of 36 percent to 38 percent acid and ammonium chloride in an amount from 40 to 200 grams per liter and wherein the pH of said solution is from 0.7 up to 1.5.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
An aqueous electrolyte suitable for electrodeposition of tin-nickel alloys from said electrolyte, said aqueous electrolyte comprising nickel as nickel chloride, based on the metal, in an amount from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter, tin as tin chloride (SnCl 2 .sup.. H 2 O) based on the metal from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter, thiourea from 10 to 100 grams per liter, sodium hypophosphite from 10 to 100 grams per liter, hydrochloric acid from 30 to 100 milliliters per liter as a concentrated acid of 36 percent to 38 percent acid and ammonium chloride in an amount from 40 to 200 grams per liter and wherein the pH of said solution is from 0.7 up to 1.5.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
148 words
The bath composition as defined in claim 8 wherein nickel is in an amount from 7.5 to 30 grams per liter and added as nickel chloride on the basis of nickel as elemental metal, tin (as SnCl 2 .H 2 O) in an amount from 15 to 45 grams per liter; thiourea, 20 grams for each 7.5 grams of tin metal; sodium hypophosphite, 20 grams for each 7.5 grams of tin metal, and wherein it is added as dihydrate thereof; hydrochloric acid in an amount from 30 to 60 milliliters per liter at a concentration of 36 percent, ammonium chloride in an amount from 150 to 200 grams per liter, and sodium lauryl sulfate in an amount from 0.05 to 0.3 grams per liter, wherein the operating temperature of said bath is from 120° to 160° F. and the pH of the bath is from 0.7 to 1.5.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1564414A
Cited
US3887444A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |