US4407869A
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US
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Controlling boron content of electroless nickel-boron deposits
Assignee: MacDermid Acumen Inc
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Filing: 1982-12-13
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Granted: 1983-10-04
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Expires: 2002-12-13
Abstract
Abstract The boron content of an electroless nickel-boron deposit is enhanced by including a source of zirconyl ions or vanadyl ions within a borane-reduced bath for laying down the nickel-boron deposit, which bath has a moderate temperature and pH. The deposit laid down has a boron content of at least about 2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the deposit.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn O. Mallory
- 👤 Theresa R. Horhn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:09
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/31; C23C18/32; C23C18/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An electroless nickel bath for laying down a nickel-boron deposit having a relatively high percentage of boron, said bath comprising an electroless nickel bath that excludes a borohydride and that is a borane-reduced bath including: a bath-soluble source of nickel; a bath-soluble borane reducing agent; and a bath-soluble boron deposition enhancing compound, said boron deposition enhancing compound being a source of ions selected from the group consisting of zirconyl ions, vanadyl ions, and combinations thereof, and said zirconyl or vanadyl ions remain substantially undeposited with the nickel-boron deposit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electroless nickel bath for laying down a nickel-boron deposit having a relatively high percentage of boron, said bath comprising an electroless nickel bath that excludes a borohydride and that is a borane-reduced bath including: a bath-soluble source of nickel; a bath-soluble borane reducing agent; and a bath-soluble boron deposition enhancing compound, said boron deposition enhancing compound being a source of ions selected from the group consisting of zirconyl ions, vanadyl ions, and combinations thereof, and said zirconyl or vanadyl ions remain substantially undeposited with the nickel-boron deposit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said boron deposition enhancing compound is a zirconyl salt or a vanadyl salt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said boron deposition enhancing compound is selected from the group consisting of zirconyl chloride, vanadyl sulfate, sodium metavanadate, and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said boron deposition enhancing compound is included within the bath at a concentration of at least about 0.0005 mol per liter, based on the total bath volue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said reducing agent is in amine borane or a cyclic amine borane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said borane reducing agent is included within the bath at a concentration of at least about 0.001 per liter, based on the total bath volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a complexing agent at a concentration of at least about 0.0005 mol per liter, based on the total bath volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a complexing agent, said complexing agent being a carboxylic acid or bath soluble derivatives thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a complexing agent, said complexing agent being a hydroxy-substituted carboxylic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a complexing agent, said complexing agent being an ester complex of an oxyacid and a polyhydric acid or alcohol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a complexing agent, said complexing agent being an organophosphoric complexing agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a stabilizer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a buffer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, wherein said bath further includes a codeposition enhancer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, said bath being at a temperature of not greater than 90° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, said bath being at a pH of less than 13.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electroless bath of claim 1, said bath being at a pH of between about 5 and about 7.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for increasing the boron content of a nickel-boron electroless deposit, comprising immersing the substrate into an electroless nickel bath and depositing a nickel-boron deposit thereon, said bath including an electroless nickel bath that excludes a borohydride and that is a borane-reduced bath including: a bath-soluble source of nickel; a bath-soluble borane reducing agent; and a bath-soluble boron deposition enhancing compound, said boron deposition enhancing compound being a source of ions selected from the group consisting of zirconyl ions, vanadyl ions, and combinations thereof and said zirconyl or vanadyl ions remain substantially undeposited with the nickel-boron deposit.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for increasing the boron content of a nickel-boron electroless deposit, comprising immersing the substrate into an electroless nickel bath and depositing a nickel-boron deposit thereon, said bath including an electroless nickel bath that excludes a borohydride and that is a borane-reduced bath including: a bath-soluble source of nickel; a bath-soluble borane reducing agent; and a bath-soluble boron deposition enhancing compound, said boron deposition enhancing compound being a source of ions selected from the group consisting of zirconyl ions, vanadyl ions, and combinations thereof and said zirconyl or vanadyl ions remain substantially undeposited with the nickel-boron deposit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said bath is maintained at a temperature of not greater than 90° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said bath is maintained at a pH of less than 13.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said bath is maintained at a pH of between about 4 and about 10.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said bath is maintained at a pH of between about 5 and about 7.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said bath further includes a bath-soluble complexing agent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said depositing step lays down a deposit including at least about 2 weight percent boron, based on the total weight of the deposit.
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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) | 1986-10-03 | 1987-04-04 | 1987-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-03 | 1991-04-04 | 1991-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-03 | 1995-04-04 | 1995-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |