US4554219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Synergistic brightener combination for amorphous nickel phosphorus electroplatings
Assignee: Burlington Industries Inc
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Filing: 1984-05-30
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Granted: 1985-11-19
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Expires: 2004-05-30
Abstract
Abstract Leveling of amorphous nickel-phosphorus electroplating is achieved by the combined synergistic action of a class II brightener and an organic acid having the formula R--COOH wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl having 1-5 carbon atoms, NH 2 CH 2 --, CH 3 CHOH--, HOCH 2 --, or ClCH 2 --. The bright, leveled, amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating may be made brighter by overplating with chromium, or other metals, to produce an object (such as cutlery, watch bezels and the like) having the desired properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodger L. Gamblin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:37
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D3/00; C25D3/02; C25D3/12; C25D5/00; C25D5/10; C25D5/12; C25D5/60; C25D5/605; C25D5/611; C25D5/615; C25D5/619; C25D5/627; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12806; Y10T428/12826; Y10T428/12847; Y10T428/12854; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12889; Y10T428/12944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method producing a leveled electroplated coating comprising the steps of: (a) adding to an electroplating bath including nickel and phosphorus ions as the primary constituents thereof, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of unsaturated organic compounds that are class II brightening agents, and at least one organic acid in an amount between one part in 60 and one part in 10, based on the volumes of the organic acid and the bath, respectively selected from the group having the formula R--COOH wherein R is alkyl having 1-5 carbon atoms, hydrogen, NH 2 CH 2 --, CH 3 CHOH--, HOCH 2 --, or ClCH 2 --; the amount and type of unsaturated organic compound class II brightening agent being selected so as to cooperate with said organic acid to enhance leveling; (b) immersing an object to be electroplated, and removing the object once electroplated, so that it has at least one surface thereof with leveled amorphous nickel-phosphorus electroplated thereon, and (c) overplating the leveled amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating with chromium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A method producing a leveled electroplated coating comprising the steps of: (a) adding to an electroplating bath including nickel and phosphorus ions as the primary constituents thereof, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of unsaturated organic compounds that are class II brightening agents, and at least one organic acid in an amount between one part in 60 and one part in 10, based on the volumes of the organic acid and the bath, respectively selected from the group having the formula R--COOH wherein R is alkyl having 1-5 carbon atoms, hydrogen, NH 2 CH 2 --, CH 3 CHOH--, HOCH 2 --, or ClCH 2 --; the amount and type of unsaturated organic compound class II brightening agent being selected so as to cooperate with said organic acid to enhance leveling; (b) immersing an object to be electroplated, and removing the object once electroplated, so that it has at least one surface thereof with leveled amorphous nickel-phosphorus electroplated thereon, and (c) overplating the leveled amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating with chromium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the bath is maintained at a temperature of between about 75° C.-95° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein electroplating further practiced by maintaining the current density between about 25-400 ma/cm 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the pH of the bath is maintained between about 0.5-2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the object immersed has an electrically conductive surface on which amorphous nickel-phosphorus is electroplated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein step (a) is further practiced by adding a surface active agent to the bath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the object immersed has an electrically conductive surface on which amorphous nickel-phosphorus is electroplated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein electroplating is further practiced by maintaining the current density between about 25-400 ma/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein electroplating is further practiced by maintaining the pH of the bath between about 0.5-2.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein electroplating is practiced by maintaining the bath at a temperature of between about 75° C.-95° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is further practiced by adding a surface active agent to the bath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the surface active agent is alkoxylated linear alcohol.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the object immersed has an electrically conductive surface on which amorphous nickel-phosphorus is electroplated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coated object comprising: a base surface of electrically conductive material; a level coating of amorphous nickel-phosphorus on said surface; and a bright overplating of chromium on said level amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coated object comprising: a base surface of electrically conductive material; a level coating of amorphous nickel-phosphorus on said surface; and a bright overplating of chromium on said level amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An object as recited in claim 15 wherein the coating of nickel-phosphorus is between about 25-1000 microinches thick.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
185 words
A method producing a leveled electroplated coating comprising the steps of: (a) adding to an electroplating bath including nickel and phosphorus ions as the primary constituents thereof, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of unsaturated organic compounds that are class II brightening agents, and at least one organic acid in an amount between one part in 60 and one part in 10, based on the volumes of the organic acid and the bath, respectively selected from the group having the formula R--COOH wherein R is alkyl having 1-5 carbon atoms, hydrogen, NH 2 CH 2 --, CH 3 CHOH--, HOCH 2 --, or ClCH 2 --; the amount and type of unsaturated organic compound class II brightening agent being selected so as to cooperate with said organic acid to enhance leveling; (b) immersing an object to be electroplated, and removing the object once electroplated, so that it has at least one surface thereof with leveled amorphous nickel-phosphorus electroplated thereon, and (c) overplating the amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating with a material selected from the group consisting of gold, white gold, titanium nitride, and silver.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
185 words
A method producing a leveled electroplated coating comprising the steps of: (a) adding to an electroplating bath including nickel and phosphorus ions as the primary constituents thereof, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of unsaturated organic compounds that are class II brightening agents, and at least one organic acid in an amount between one part in 60 and one part in 10, based on the volumes of the organic acid and the bath, respectively selected from the group having the formula R--COOH wherein R is alkyl having 1-5 carbon atoms, hydrogen, NH 2 CH 2 --, CH 3 CHOH--, HOCH 2 --, or ClCH 2 --; the amount and type of unsaturated organic compound class II brightening agent being selected so as to cooperate with said organic acid to enhance leveling; (b) immersing an object to be electroplated, and removing the object once electroplated, so that it has at least one surface thereof with leveled amorphous nickel-phosphorus electroplated thereon, and (c) overplating the amorphous nickel-phosphorus coating with a material selected from the group consisting of gold, white gold, titanium nitride, and silver.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and hydroxyacetic acid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein step (a) is further practiced by adding a surface active agent to the bath.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-05-20 | 1989-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-18 | 1997-05-20 | 1997-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |