Patent US4152220A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4152220A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electroplating solutions for the electrodeposition of aluminum and method of making same

Assignee: Alumatec Inc
•
Filing: 1978-01-09
•
Granted: 1979-05-01
•
Expires: 1998-01-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Aluminum or an alloy thereof is electroplated upon electrically conductive substrates by immersing the substrate as a cathode in a novel stable electrolyte, made by (a) reacting aluminum with a hydrogen halide or a halogen and hydrogen halide, in the absence of water, but in one of several organic, non-Lewis base solvents or mixtures thereof to form an intermediate aluminum halide cation in solution, the concentration of the aluminum cation and the concentration of hydrogen ion in solution being, respectively, below about 5.0 M and 0.4 M and preferably containing an aluminum cation concentration extending between 2.7 M and 4.2 M and a [H + ] ion concentration extending between about 0.01 M and about 0.3 M, the exact maximum amount of [H + ] ion concentration depending upon the aluminum ion concentration (there is a direct, substantially linear, relationship between the [Al +3 ] ion concentration and [H + ] ion concentration); and (b) then adding a restricted amount, preferably less than about 16 mole% relative to the initial quantity of aluminum added, of a metal halide, MX where M=Li, Na, or K and X=Cl, Br, or I, or where MX is a special halide such as beryllium bromide, magnesium bromide, or quaternary ammonium bromide to form a different, stable aluminum cationic plating species.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jack Y. Wong

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 22:20
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D3/00; C25D3/02; C25D3/56; C25D21/00; C25D21/16; C25D21/18; C25D3/42; C25D3/44

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 162 words
A method for forming an electroplating solution for aluminum or its alloys which includes: reacting a given quantity of aluminum, in the presence of an organic, substantially anhydrous non-Lewis base solvent, with (a) a member of the group consisting essentially of a hydrogen halide, and halogen plus a hydrogen halide, in a quantity in excess of that required to produce an aluminum halide but below that required to produce, at equilibrium, a hydrogen ion concentration of less than 0.4 molar; and with (b) about 0.5-16 mole % metallic halide based on the initial mole quantity of said aluminum, said metallic halide being selected from the group consisting of the halides of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Beryllium, Magnesium, and the Ammonium ion, to form a plating solution containing an aluminum cationic plating species having an aluminum ion molarity of below about 5.0 molar whereby said plating solution will plate aluminum onto a cathode, at low voltages on the order of below about 5 volts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 162 words
A method for forming an electroplating solution for aluminum or its alloys which includes: reacting a given quantity of aluminum, in the presence of an organic, substantially anhydrous non-Lewis base solvent, with (a) a member of the group consisting essentially of a hydrogen halide, and halogen plus a hydrogen halide, in a quantity in excess of that required to produce an aluminum halide but below that required to produce, at equilibrium, a hydrogen ion concentration of less than 0.4 molar; and with (b) about 0.5-16 mole % metallic halide based on the initial mole quantity of said aluminum, said metallic halide being selected from the group consisting of the halides of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Beryllium, Magnesium, and the Ammonium ion, to form a plating solution containing an aluminum cationic plating species having an aluminum ion molarity of below about 5.0 molar whereby said plating solution will plate aluminum onto a cathode, at low voltages on the order of below about 5 volts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the organic, anhydrous, non-Lewis base solvent consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, carbon disulfide, cyclohexane, dimethylsulfide, tetrahydrofuran and diiodoethane, taken singly or in admixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 10 words
The plating solution formed by the method of claim 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 in which said hydrogen halide or halogen plus hydrogen halide is supplied in a molar ratio with the aluminum of at least 3:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the said aluminum ion molarity of said plating solution is maintained between about 2.7 and 4.2 molar during plating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 10 words
The plating solution formed by the method of claim 5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized by a resistivity in said plating solution of from about 100-400 ohm/centimeter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 5 further characterized by a resistivity in said plating solution of from about 100-400 ohm/centimeter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aluminum ion molarity in said plating solution is maintained between about 2.7 and 4.2 molar, and said hydrogen ion molarity is maintained at between about 0.01 M and 0.3 molar, the relationship between ion molarity and hydrogen ion molarity substantially following the formula y=5.27 X+2.6173 where y=aluminum ion molarity and X=hydrogen ion molarity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said aluminum ion molarity in said plating solution is maintained between about 2.7 and 4.2 molar, and said hydrogen ion molarity is maintained at between about 0.01 molar and 0.3 molar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 174 words
In a method for forming an electroplating solution for aluminum or its alloys, the steps of: reacting a given quantity of aluminum, in an organic essentially anhydrous, non-Lewis base solvent, with a member of the group consisting essentially of a hydrogen halide, and a halogen plus hydrogen halide, in a molar quantity in excess of that required to produce an aluminum halide having an aluminum ion molarity of between about 2.7 and about 5.0 molar and a hydrogen ion concentration of less than about 0.4 molar, at equilibrium, in a first solution; and adding to said first solution, from about 0.5-16 mole % metallic halide, based on said initial given quantity of said aluminum, said metallic halide being selected from the halides consisting of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Beryllium, Magnesium, and Ammonium ions, to form a plating solution containing an aluminum cationic plating species having an aluminum ion molarity of below about 5.0 molar whereby said plating solution will plate aluminum onto a cathode, at low voltages on the order of below about 5 volts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 174 words
In a method for forming an electroplating solution for aluminum or its alloys, the steps of: reacting a given quantity of aluminum, in an organic essentially anhydrous, non-Lewis base solvent, with a member of the group consisting essentially of a hydrogen halide, and a halogen plus hydrogen halide, in a molar quantity in excess of that required to produce an aluminum halide having an aluminum ion molarity of between about 2.7 and about 5.0 molar and a hydrogen ion concentration of less than about 0.4 molar, at equilibrium, in a first solution; and adding to said first solution, from about 0.5-16 mole % metallic halide, based on said initial given quantity of said aluminum, said metallic halide being selected from the halides consisting of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Beryllium, Magnesium, and Ammonium ions, to form a plating solution containing an aluminum cationic plating species having an aluminum ion molarity of below about 5.0 molar whereby said plating solution will plate aluminum onto a cathode, at low voltages on the order of below about 5 volts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 34 words
In a method of claim 11, the solvent which consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, carbon disulfide, cyclohexane, dimethylsulfide, tetrahydrofuran and diiodoethane, taken singly or in admixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 10 words
The plating solution formed by the method of claim 11.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 11 in which said hydrogen halide and/or halogen plus hydrogen halide is supplied in a molar ratio with the aluminum of in excess of 3:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 11 in which the said aluminum ion molarity of said plating solution is maintained between about 2.7 and 4.2 molar and said hydrogen ion molarity lies between 0.01 molar and about 0.3 molar, during plating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 10 words
The plating solution formed by the method of claim 11.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 63 words
The method of claim 11 in which the said aluminum ion molarity of said plating solution is maintained between about 2.7 and 4.2 molar and said hydrogen ion molarity lies between 0.01 molar and about 0.3 molar, during plating, the relationship between aluminum ion molarity and hydrogen ion molarity substantially following the formula y=5.27 X+2.6173 where y=aluminum ion molarity and x=.hydrogen ion molarity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 11 further characterized by a resistivity in said plating solution of from about 100-400 ohm/centimeter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 11 further characterized by a resistivity in said plating solution of from about 100-400 ohm/centimeter.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 206 words
A method for forming an electroplating solution for aluminum or its alloys which comprises: reacting a given quantity of aluminum, in an organic substantially anhydrous, non-Lewis base solvent, selected from the group consisting essentially of benzene, toluene, carbon disulfide, cyclohexane, dimethylsulfide, tetrahydrofuran and diiodoethane, taken singly, or in admixture, with a member of the group consisting essentially of hydrogen halide, and a halogen plus a hydrogen halide in a molar quantity in excess of that required to produce an aluminum cationic species having an aluminum ion molarity of between about 2.7 molar and about 4.2 molar and a hydrogen ion concentration of between about 0.01 molar and 0.3 molar, at equilibrium, in a first solution; and adding to said first solution, from about 0.5-16 mole % metallic halide, based on said initial given quantity of said aluminum, said metallic halide being selected from the halides consisting of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Beryllium, Magnesium and Ammonium ions, to form a plating solution containing an aluminum cationic plating species having an aluminum ion molarity of below about 4.2 molar whereby said plating solution has a resistivity of from about 100-400 ohm/centimeter and will plate aluminum onto a cathode at low voltages on the order of below about 5 volts.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 206 words
A method for forming an electroplating solution for aluminum or its alloys which comprises: reacting a given quantity of aluminum, in an organic substantially anhydrous, non-Lewis base solvent, selected from the group consisting essentially of benzene, toluene, carbon disulfide, cyclohexane, dimethylsulfide, tetrahydrofuran and diiodoethane, taken singly, or in admixture, with a member of the group consisting essentially of hydrogen halide, and a halogen plus a hydrogen halide in a molar quantity in excess of that required to produce an aluminum cationic species having an aluminum ion molarity of between about 2.7 molar and about 4.2 molar and a hydrogen ion concentration of between about 0.01 molar and 0.3 molar, at equilibrium, in a first solution; and adding to said first solution, from about 0.5-16 mole % metallic halide, based on said initial given quantity of said aluminum, said metallic halide being selected from the halides consisting of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Beryllium, Magnesium and Ammonium ions, to form a plating solution containing an aluminum cationic plating species having an aluminum ion molarity of below about 4.2 molar whereby said plating solution has a resistivity of from about 100-400 ohm/centimeter and will plate aluminum onto a cathode at low voltages on the order of below about 5 volts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 10 words
The plating solution formed by the method of claim 20.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2170375A Cited
US3997410A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-04-30 1982-10-30 1983-05-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-04-30 1986-10-30 1987-05-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-04-30 1990-10-30 1991-05-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag