Patent US3451535A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5580668A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5580668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Aluminum-palladium alloy for initiation of electroless plating
Assignee: Astarix Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-12
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Granted: 1996-12-03
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Expires: 2015-01-12
Abstract
Abstract Thin layers of aluminum (13) and palladium (12) are deposited and annealed to produce aluminum-palladium alloy (14). The surface of the alloy (14) is exposed and treated with an aluminum etchant to produce a catalytic surface (15). The catalytic surface is used for electroless plating of nickel, providing excellent plating uniformity and adhesion, as well as a reduced plating induction time. Several variants of the basic method are possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark D. Kellam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:20
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/40; H10P14/46; H10W20/032; H10W20/033; H10W20/042; H10W20/044; H10W20/047; H10W20/049; H10W20/056; H10W20/057; H10W20/069; H10W20/0693; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12458; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12736; Y10T428/1275; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12875; Y10T428/12993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A structure for facilitating electroless deposition of a plating material on a substrate, said structure comprising: an alloy layer of a base material and a catalytic material. said alloy layer having a first surface disposed proximal to said substrate, and an active catalytic surface for plating said plating material, said active catalytic surface disposed distal from said substrate, said alloy layer is formed by depositing a first layer of catalytic material and a second layer ,of the base material, at least partly diffusing the second layer into the first layer; wherein said active catalytic surface is formed by removing base material of said second layer remaining on said alloy layer, and only a portion of atoms of said base material from said alloy layer, and wherein said active catalytic surface is formed substantially by atoms of said catalytic material which remain after removal of said atoms of said base material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A structure for facilitating electroless deposition of a plating material on a substrate, said structure comprising: an alloy layer of a base material and a catalytic material. said alloy layer having a first surface disposed proximal to said substrate, and an active catalytic surface for plating said plating material, said active catalytic surface disposed distal from said substrate, said alloy layer is formed by depositing a first layer of catalytic material and a second layer ,of the base material, at least partly diffusing the second layer into the first layer; wherein said active catalytic surface is formed by removing base material of said second layer remaining on said alloy layer, and only a portion of atoms of said base material from said alloy layer, and wherein said active catalytic surface is formed substantially by atoms of said catalytic material which remain after removal of said atoms of said base material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1, further comprising: a substrate; and an adhesion layer disposed between said substrate and said alloy layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 1 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 1 wherein stud catalytic material comprises palladium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 4 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 2 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 2 wherein stud catalytic material comprises palladium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 7 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A structure of claim 1, wherein said catalytically active surface is formed by removing atoms of said base material from said alloy layer by exposing said alloy layer to an etchant having a higher etch rate of said base material than said catalytic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
A structure for facilitating electroless deposition of a plating material on a substrate, said structure comprising: an alloy layer of a base material and a catalytic material, said alloy layer having a first surface disposed proximal to said substrate and an active catalytic surface for plating said plating material, said active catalytic surface disposed distal from said substrate, said alloy layer is formed by depositing a first layer of the base material and a second layer of the catalytic material, diffusing the second layer into the first layer so that the surface of the formed alloy layer, which surface is distal from said substrate, contains atoms of the base material; wherein said active catalytic layer is formed by removing only a portion of atoms of said base material from the distal surface of said formed alloy layer, thereby exposing atoms of said catalytic material along said active catalytic surface and increasing the catalytic activity of said surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
A structure for facilitating electroless deposition of a plating material on a substrate, said structure comprising: an alloy layer of a base material and a catalytic material, said alloy layer having a first surface disposed proximal to said substrate and an active catalytic surface for plating said plating material, said active catalytic surface disposed distal from said substrate, said alloy layer is formed by depositing a first layer of the base material and a second layer of the catalytic material, diffusing the second layer into the first layer so that the surface of the formed alloy layer, which surface is distal from said substrate, contains atoms of the base material; wherein said active catalytic layer is formed by removing only a portion of atoms of said base material from the distal surface of said formed alloy layer, thereby exposing atoms of said catalytic material along said active catalytic surface and increasing the catalytic activity of said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 10, further comprising: a substrate; and an adhesion layer disposed between said substrate and said alloy layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 10 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 10 wherein said catalytic material comprises palladium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 13 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 11 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 11 wherein said catalytic material comprises palladium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
A structure of claim 16 wherein said base material comprises aluminum.
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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) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |