US4082898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroless deposition of electrically nonconductive copper-boron coatings on nonmetallic substrates
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
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Filing: 1975-06-23
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Granted: 1978-04-04
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Expires: 1995-06-23
Abstract
Abstract An electrically nonconductive copper-boron film is deposited on the surface of a substrate, particularly a nonmetallic substrate such as glass, by reducing a copper salt with a small amount of alkali metal borohydride in the presence of a complexing agent such as Rochelle salt or ethylenediamine tetraacetate salts. The resultant copper-boron coated substrate may be further heated until it assumes a copper-bronze appearance by reflection, resulting in a copper-boron coated article, or the copper-boron coated substrate may be subjected to chemical reduction, resulting in a copper coated article of superior uniformity.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G. Miller
- 👤 Roy L. Cavitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:04
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/31; C23C18/38; C23C18/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9335; Y10S428/936; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of depositing an electrically nonconductive copper boron film onto a non-metallic substrate comprising the steps of: a. sensitizing a surface of the substrate, and b. contacting the sensitized surface of the substrate with an alkaline aqueous solution comprising a copper salt and an alkali metal borohydride at a pH of at least about 12 in the presence of a complexing agent for copper in sufficient amount to deposit a copper boron film in about 30 seconds to about 3 minutes at a temperature between about 70° F. and 120° F. (about 20° C. to 50° C.).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of depositing an electrically nonconductive copper boron film onto a non-metallic substrate comprising the steps of: a. sensitizing a surface of the substrate, and b. contacting the sensitized surface of the substrate with an alkaline aqueous solution comprising a copper salt and an alkali metal borohydride at a pH of at least about 12 in the presence of a complexing agent for copper in sufficient amount to deposit a copper boron film in about 30 seconds to about 3 minutes at a temperature between about 70° F. and 120° F. (about 20° C. to 50° C.).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution comprises: ______________________________________
copper salt 2 to 30 grams
complexing agent 20 to 40 grams
alkaline pH agent 40 to 60 grams
alkali metal borohydride
0.1 to 2.0 grams
water 1 liter.
______________________________________
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the copper salt is copper sulfate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the complexing agent is selected from the group consisting of disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate, tetrasodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate, and Rochelle salt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the pH control agent is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the pH of the solution is between about 13.0 and about 13.5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the alkali metal borohydride is sodium borohydride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a clear, transparent glass substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of maintaining the copper-boron coated substrate at an elevated temperature until the copper-boron film acquires a copper-bronze to bronze color by reflection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein the copper-boron coated substrate is maintained at a temperature of at least about 500° F. (about 260° C.).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the copper-boron coated substrate is maintained at a temperature between about 700° and about 800° F. (about 370° to 430° C.).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of making a copper film on a non-metallic substrate comprising the steps of: a. sensitizing a surface of the substrate; b. contactng the sensitized surface of the substrate with an alkaline aqueous solution comprising a copper salt and an alkali metal borohydride at a pH of at least about 12 in the presence of a complexing agent for copper in proper proportion to deposit a copper-boron film; and c. contacting the copper-boron film with a reducing solution to reduce the copper-boron film to a metallic copper film.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of making a copper film on a non-metallic substrate comprising the steps of: a. sensitizing a surface of the substrate; b. contactng the sensitized surface of the substrate with an alkaline aqueous solution comprising a copper salt and an alkali metal borohydride at a pH of at least about 12 in the presence of a complexing agent for copper in proper proportion to deposit a copper-boron film; and c. contacting the copper-boron film with a reducing solution to reduce the copper-boron film to a metallic copper film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein the reducing solution is an alkaline aqueous solution of sodium borohydride, formaldehyde, sodium hypophosphite or a hydrazine compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the reducing solution is an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride at a concentration of about 0.5 gram per liter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An article of manufacture comprising a non-metallic substrate and a film deposited thereon according to the method of claim 1, which film contains copper and at least 10 percent boron and is non-conductive
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
An article of manufacture comprising a transparent glass substrate and a film deposited thereon according to the method of claim 8, which film appears copper-bronze to bronze by reflection from the glass surface having a dominant reflected wavelength of from about 576 to 582 nanometers, an excitation purity of from about 10 to about 20 percent and a luminous reflectance of from about 20 to about 35 percent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article of manufacture comprising a non-metallic substrate having disposed on at least one surface thereof a non-conductive coating comprised of copper and at least 10 percent boron.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article of manufacture comprising a non-metallic substrate having disposed on at least one surface thereof a non-conductive coating comprised of copper and at least 10 percent boron.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article of manufacture according to claim 17, wherein the non-metallic substrate is a clear, transparent glass substrate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-03 | 1981-10-03 | 1982-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-03 | 1985-10-03 | 1986-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-03 | 1989-10-03 | 1990-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |