EP2875168B1 - Electroless nickel coatings and compositions and methods for forming the coatings - Google Patents
Electroless nickel coatings and compositions and methods for forming the coatings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2875168B1 EP2875168B1 EP13820572.9A EP13820572A EP2875168B1 EP 2875168 B1 EP2875168 B1 EP 2875168B1 EP 13820572 A EP13820572 A EP 13820572A EP 2875168 B1 EP2875168 B1 EP 2875168B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- nickel
- electroless nickel
- electroless
- acid
- plating bath
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 526
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 264
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 title claims description 132
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 59
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title description 10
- 238000007747 plating Methods 0.000 claims description 154
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 106
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 83
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Acetic acid Chemical compound CC(O)=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 45
- BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydridophosphorus(.) (triplet) Chemical compound [PH] BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 36
- 239000008139 complexing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 31
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 26
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000002738 chelating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N lactic acid Chemical compound CC(O)C(O)=O JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 22
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 20
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- KDYFGRWQOYBRFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Succinic acid Natural products OC(=O)CCC(O)=O KDYFGRWQOYBRFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000006174 pH buffer Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 15
- 235000011054 acetic acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 229910052797 bismuth Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 15
- JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N bismuth atom Chemical compound [Bi] JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 15
- KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N EDTA Chemical compound OC(=O)CN(CC(O)=O)CCN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 13
- KWSLGOVYXMQPPX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2h-tetrazole Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C1=CC=CC(C2=NNN=N2)=C1 KWSLGOVYXMQPPX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- DHMQDGOQFOQNFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycine Chemical compound NCC(O)=O DHMQDGOQFOQNFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- BJEPYKJPYRNKOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N alpha-hydroxysuccinic acid Natural products OC(=O)C(O)CC(O)=O BJEPYKJPYRNKOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- 229960001484 edetic acid Drugs 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910001379 sodium hypophosphite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000004310 lactic acid Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 235000014655 lactic acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 11
- 150000002815 nickel Chemical class 0.000 claims description 10
- BJEPYKJPYRNKOW-REOHCLBHSA-N (S)-malic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)[C@@H](O)CC(O)=O BJEPYKJPYRNKOW-REOHCLBHSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- KDYFGRWQOYBRFD-NUQCWPJISA-N butanedioic acid Chemical compound O[14C](=O)CC[14C](O)=O KDYFGRWQOYBRFD-NUQCWPJISA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N citric acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC(O)(C(O)=O)CC(O)=O KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000001630 malic acid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 235000011090 malic acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 9
- AEMRFAOFKBGASW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycolic acid Chemical compound OCC(O)=O AEMRFAOFKBGASW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- OFOBLEOULBTSOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Malonic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC(O)=O OFOBLEOULBTSOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000007772 electroless plating Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- VHUUQVKOLVNVRT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonium hydroxide Chemical compound [NH4+].[OH-] VHUUQVKOLVNVRT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000908 ammonium hydroxide Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000004471 Glycine Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- RUTXIHLAWFEWGM-UHFFFAOYSA-H iron(3+) sulfate Chemical compound [Fe+3].[Fe+3].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O RUTXIHLAWFEWGM-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910000360 iron(III) sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- BDAGIHXWWSANSR-UHFFFAOYSA-N methanoic acid Natural products OC=O BDAGIHXWWSANSR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 150000002898 organic sulfur compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052698 phosphorus Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- QNAYBMKLOCPYGJ-REOHCLBHSA-N L-alanine Chemical compound C[C@H](N)C(O)=O QNAYBMKLOCPYGJ-REOHCLBHSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910021586 Nickel(II) chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000004279 alanine Nutrition 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- QMMRZOWCJAIUJA-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel dichloride Chemical compound Cl[Ni]Cl QMMRZOWCJAIUJA-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- UQPSGBZICXWIAG-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel(2+);dibromide;trihydrate Chemical compound O.O.O.Br[Ni]Br UQPSGBZICXWIAG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000011574 phosphorus Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- XXSPKSHUSWQAIZ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 36026-88-7 Chemical compound [Ni+2].[O-]P=O.[O-]P=O XXSPKSHUSWQAIZ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 3
- OSWFIVFLDKOXQC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-(3-methoxyphenyl)aniline Chemical compound COC1=CC=CC(C=2C=CC(N)=CC=2)=C1 OSWFIVFLDKOXQC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- CKLJMWTZIZZHCS-REOHCLBHSA-N L-aspartic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)[C@@H](N)CC(O)=O CKLJMWTZIZZHCS-REOHCLBHSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- KDXKERNSBIXSRK-YFKPBYRVSA-N L-lysine Chemical compound NCCCC[C@H](N)C(O)=O KDXKERNSBIXSRK-YFKPBYRVSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004472 Lysine Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- KDXKERNSBIXSRK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lysine Natural products NCCCCC(N)C(O)=O KDXKERNSBIXSRK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- MQRWBMAEBQOWAF-UHFFFAOYSA-N acetic acid;nickel Chemical compound [Ni].CC(O)=O.CC(O)=O MQRWBMAEBQOWAF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- GJYJYFHBOBUTBY-UHFFFAOYSA-N alpha-camphorene Chemical compound CC(C)=CCCC(=C)C1CCC(CCC=C(C)C)=CC1 GJYJYFHBOBUTBY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000003863 ammonium salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000003704 aspartic acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- OQFSQFPPLPISGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N beta-carboxyaspartic acid Natural products OC(=O)C(N)C(C(O)=O)C(O)=O OQFSQFPPLPISGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000015165 citric acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000019253 formic acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 229940049920 malate Drugs 0.000 claims description 3
- 229940078494 nickel acetate Drugs 0.000 claims description 3
- BFSQJYRFLQUZKX-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel(ii) iodide Chemical compound I[Ni]I BFSQJYRFLQUZKX-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910001380 potassium hypophosphite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- CRGPNLUFHHUKCM-UHFFFAOYSA-M potassium phosphinate Chemical compound [K+].[O-]P=O CRGPNLUFHHUKCM-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 23
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 22
- 229940065278 sulfur compound Drugs 0.000 description 12
- 150000003464 sulfur compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 12
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 11
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 description 11
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 description 11
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- -1 hypophosphite ions Chemical class 0.000 description 10
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 10
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 7
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 7
- 229940099690 malic acid Drugs 0.000 description 7
- JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-REOHCLBHSA-N L-lactic acid Chemical compound C[C@H](O)C(O)=O JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-REOHCLBHSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- UMGDCJDMYOKAJW-UHFFFAOYSA-N thiourea Chemical compound NC(N)=S UMGDCJDMYOKAJW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 230000007306 turnover Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910000570 Cupronickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- VEQPNABPJHWNSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel(2+) Chemical compound [Ni+2] VEQPNABPJHWNSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 5
- YOCUPQPZWBBYIX-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper nickel Chemical compound [Ni].[Cu] YOCUPQPZWBBYIX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 229910001453 nickel ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 239000001384 succinic acid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 235000011044 succinic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 4
- XBDQKXXYIPTUBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethylselenoniopropionate Natural products CCC(O)=O XBDQKXXYIPTUBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229940116298 l- malic acid Drugs 0.000 description 4
- MUBZPKHOEPUJKR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Oxalic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)C(O)=O MUBZPKHOEPUJKR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Urea Natural products NC(N)=O XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 3
- JHXKRIRFYBPWGE-UHFFFAOYSA-K bismuth chloride Chemical compound Cl[Bi](Cl)Cl JHXKRIRFYBPWGE-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 3
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 3
- URDCARMUOSMFFI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-[2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetic acid Chemical compound OCCN(CC(O)=O)CCN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O URDCARMUOSMFFI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonia Chemical compound N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- RGHNJXZEOKUKBD-SQOUGZDYSA-N D-gluconic acid Chemical compound OC[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C(O)=O RGHNJXZEOKUKBD-SQOUGZDYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc monoxide Chemical compound [Zn]=O XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 2
- WNLRTRBMVRJNCN-UHFFFAOYSA-N adipic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CCCCC(O)=O WNLRTRBMVRJNCN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 2
- ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L copper(II) sulfate Chemical compound [Cu+2].[O-][S+2]([O-])([O-])[O-] ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 229910000366 copper(II) sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- JZCCFEFSEZPSOG-UHFFFAOYSA-L copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate Chemical compound O.O.O.O.O.[Cu+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O JZCCFEFSEZPSOG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009713 electroplating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- JLKDVMWYMMLWTI-UHFFFAOYSA-M potassium iodate Chemical compound [K+].[O-]I(=O)=O JLKDVMWYMMLWTI-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 239000001230 potassium iodate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000006666 potassium iodate Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229940093930 potassium iodate Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 235000019260 propionic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- IUVKMZGDUIUOCP-BTNSXGMBSA-N quinbolone Chemical compound O([C@H]1CC[C@H]2[C@H]3[C@@H]([C@]4(C=CC(=O)C=C4CC3)C)CC[C@@]21C)C1=CCCC1 IUVKMZGDUIUOCP-BTNSXGMBSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000376 reactant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007420 reactivation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006722 reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000004764 thiosulfuric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 150000003752 zinc compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- JIAARYAFYJHUJI-UHFFFAOYSA-L zinc dichloride Chemical compound [Cl-].[Cl-].[Zn+2] JIAARYAFYJHUJI-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- ONDPHDOFVYQSGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N zinc nitrate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O ONDPHDOFVYQSGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910000851 Alloy steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- KXDHJXZQYSOELW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbamic acid Chemical class NC(O)=O KXDHJXZQYSOELW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000975 Carbon steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RGHNJXZEOKUKBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N D-gluconic acid Natural products OCC(O)C(O)C(O)C(O)C(O)=O RGHNJXZEOKUKBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-JCYAYHJZSA-N Dextrotartaric acid Chemical compound OC(=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C(O)=O FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-JCYAYHJZSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229940120146 EDTMP Drugs 0.000 description 1
- PIICEJLVQHRZGT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylenediamine Chemical class NCCN PIICEJLVQHRZGT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- DBVJJBKOTRCVKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Etidronic acid Chemical compound OP(=O)(O)C(O)(C)P(O)(O)=O DBVJJBKOTRCVKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- KWYHDKDOAIKMQN-UHFFFAOYSA-N N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine Chemical compound CN(C)CCN(C)C KWYHDKDOAIKMQN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000990 Ni alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910018104 Ni-P Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910018536 Ni—P Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tartaric acid Natural products [H+].[H+].[O-]C(=O)C(O)C(O)C([O-])=O FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- NSOXQYCFHDMMGV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine Chemical compound CC(O)CN(CC(C)O)CCN(CC(C)O)CC(C)O NSOXQYCFHDMMGV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FMRLDPWIRHBCCC-UHFFFAOYSA-L Zinc carbonate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[O-]C([O-])=O FMRLDPWIRHBCCC-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- PTFCDOFLOPIGGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc dication Chemical compound [Zn+2] PTFCDOFLOPIGGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003929 acidic solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001361 adipic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011037 adipic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229940045714 alkyl sulfonate alkylating agent Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 238000005275 alloying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910021529 ammonia Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001621 bismuth Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- KGBXLFKZBHKPEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N boric acid Chemical compound OB(O)O KGBXLFKZBHKPEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004327 boric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010962 carbon steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 238000003486 chemical etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910017052 cobalt Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010941 cobalt Substances 0.000 description 1
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 239000008367 deionised water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910021641 deionized water Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001991 dicarboxylic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- NFDRPXJGHKJRLJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N edtmp Chemical compound OP(O)(=O)CN(CP(O)(O)=O)CCN(CP(O)(O)=O)CP(O)(O)=O NFDRPXJGHKJRLJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003623 enhancer Substances 0.000 description 1
- XZUAPPXGIFNDRA-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethane-1,2-diamine;hydrate Chemical class O.NCCN XZUAPPXGIFNDRA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- MFGZXPGKKJMZIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethyl 5-amino-1-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)pyrazole-4-carboxylate Chemical compound NC1=C(C(=O)OCC)C=NN1C1=CC=C(S(N)(=O)=O)C=C1 MFGZXPGKKJMZIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229940071106 ethylenediaminetetraacetate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000174 gluconic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000012208 gluconic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000383 hazardous chemical Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- RXPAJWPEYBDXOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydron;methyl 4-methoxypyridine-2-carboxylate;chloride Chemical compound Cl.COC(=O)C1=CC(OC)=CC=N1 RXPAJWPEYBDXOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013101 initial test Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011256 inorganic filler Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910003475 inorganic filler Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910010272 inorganic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011147 inorganic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000358 iron sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BAUYGSIQEAFULO-UHFFFAOYSA-L iron(2+) sulfate (anhydrous) Chemical compound [Fe+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O BAUYGSIQEAFULO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002763 monocarboxylic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- LGQLOGILCSXPEA-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel sulfate Chemical compound [Ni+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O LGQLOGILCSXPEA-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- KERTUBUCQCSNJU-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel(2+);disulfamate Chemical compound [Ni+2].NS([O-])(=O)=O.NS([O-])(=O)=O KERTUBUCQCSNJU-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910000363 nickel(II) sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000620 organic polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000006408 oxalic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010979 pH adjustment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006179 pH buffering agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- ACVYVLVWPXVTIT-UHFFFAOYSA-M phosphinate Chemical compound [O-][PH2]=O ACVYVLVWPXVTIT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- AQSJGOWTSHOLKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N phosphite(3-) Chemical class [O-]P([O-])[O-] AQSJGOWTSHOLKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010791 quenching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- WWNBZGLDODTKEM-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfanylidenenickel Chemical compound [Ni]=S WWNBZGLDODTKEM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M sulfonate Chemical compound [O-]S(=O)=O BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000011975 tartaric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000002906 tartaric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011667 zinc carbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000004416 zinc carbonate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910000010 zinc carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011592 zinc chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000005074 zinc chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011787 zinc oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000014692 zinc oxide Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- LRXTYHSAJDENHV-UHFFFAOYSA-H zinc phosphate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[Zn+2].[Zn+2].[O-]P([O-])([O-])=O.[O-]P([O-])([O-])=O LRXTYHSAJDENHV-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 1
- 229910000165 zinc phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XOOUIPVCVHRTMJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L zinc stearate Chemical compound [Zn+2].CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC([O-])=O.CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC([O-])=O XOOUIPVCVHRTMJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- JDLYKQWJXAQNNS-UHFFFAOYSA-L zinc;dibenzoate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[O-]C(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1.[O-]C(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1 JDLYKQWJXAQNNS-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C18/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating
- C23C18/16—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating by reduction or substitution, e.g. electroless plating
- C23C18/1601—Process or apparatus
- C23C18/1633—Process of electroless plating
- C23C18/1646—Characteristics of the product obtained
- C23C18/165—Multilayered product
- C23C18/1651—Two or more layers only obtained by electroless plating
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C18/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating
- C23C18/16—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating by reduction or substitution, e.g. electroless plating
- C23C18/31—Coating with metals
- C23C18/32—Coating with nickel, cobalt or mixtures thereof with phosphorus or boron
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C18/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating
- C23C18/16—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating by reduction or substitution, e.g. electroless plating
- C23C18/1601—Process or apparatus
- C23C18/1633—Process of electroless plating
- C23C18/1689—After-treatment
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C18/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating
- C23C18/16—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating by reduction or substitution, e.g. electroless plating
- C23C18/31—Coating with metals
- C23C18/32—Coating with nickel, cobalt or mixtures thereof with phosphorus or boron
- C23C18/34—Coating with nickel, cobalt or mixtures thereof with phosphorus or boron using reducing agents
- C23C18/36—Coating with nickel, cobalt or mixtures thereof with phosphorus or boron using reducing agents using hypophosphites
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C18/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of either liquid compounds or solutions of the coating forming compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating; Contact plating
- C23C18/54—Contact plating, i.e. electroless electrochemical plating
Definitions
- This application relates to electroless nickel coatings, methods for forming the electroless nickel coating, and electroless nickel baths for forming the electroless nickel coatings.
- Electroless nickel plating is a widely utilized plating process, which provides a continuous deposit of a nickel metal or nickel/alloy coating on metallic or non-metallic substrates without the need for external electric plating current. Electroless plating has been described as a controlled autocatalytic chemical reduction process for depositing metals. The process involves a continuous buildup of a nickel coating on a substrate by immersion of the substrate in a nickel plating bath under appropriate electroless plating conditions.
- the plating baths generally comprise an electroless nickel salt and a reducing agent.
- Some electroless nickel baths use hypophosphite ions as a reducing agent, and during the process, the hypophosphite ions are oxidized to orthophosphite ions, and the nickel cations in the plating bath are reduced to form a nickel phosphorous alloy as a deposit on the desired substrate surface. As the reaction proceeds, the level of orthophosphite ions in the bath increases, and the orthophosphite ions often are precipitated from the plating solutions as insoluble metal orthophosphites.
- the source of nickel ions in the electroless plating baths described in the prior art has included nickel chloride, nickel sulfate, nickel bromide, nickel fluoroborate, nickel sulfonate, nickel sulfamate, and nickel alkyl sulfonates.
- the reactants In order to have a continuous and consistent electroless plating process, the reactants must be replenished.
- the frequency at which additions of the reactants are made to the bath depends on how far the concentrations of the reacting species can be allowed to vary from their optimum concentrations without adversely affecting the plating process, or concurrently the deposit.
- the electroless plating reaction not only yields a nickel alloy deposit; it also generates by-products, which accumulate in solution. As the concentration of the by-products increase, their influence on the plating reaction also increases.
- Electroless nickel-phosphorous coatings can be chemically treated, e.g., etched, to produce black coatings (Ni-P black). These black electroless nickel coatings can act as efficient absorbers and be used as very low reflectance coatings in optical instruments and sensors.
- Chemical etching of electroless nickel-phosphorous coatings typically involves acid etching of low (1-3% phosphorous) or medium-low (3-6% phosphorous) nickel phosphorous alloys. Higher phosphorous content alloys are not suitable because they are too corrosion resistant to blacken as result of acid etching.
- Japanese patent application JP 2007/7154223 A provides an electroless nickel-plating liquid containing no lead, and a plating method using the same.
- US patent application US 2004/0144285 A1 discloses an electrolyte for electroless deposition of metal layers with internal compressive stresses containing a metal base salt, a reducing agent, a complexing agent, an accelerator and a stabilizer, where preferably nickel, copper, silver or gold, especially preferably nickel is used as metal.
- Japanese patent application JP 2005/ 290400 A provides an electroless nickel (alloy) plating bath capable of achieving satisfactory formation of plating film and satisfactory continuous use of the plating bath without substantially incorporating lead etc. which are hazardous substances therein.
- the electroless nickel plating bath contains a water-soluble nickel salt, a reducing agent, molybdenum, and bismuth and the electroless nickel (alloy) plating bath contains further an alloying metal salt in addition thereto.
- US patent 4,511,614 discloses a process for producing an optically black coating having high absorptivity and emissivity values utilizing an electroless nickel plating process, and to a substrate provided with said black coating.
- the present invention is directed to a method for forming a multilayer electroless metal coating on a substrate, the method comprising:
- the hypophosphorous reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and combinations thereof.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath includes at least one pH buffer, complexing agent, or chelating agent selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, an ammonium salt, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, glycine, alanine, glycolic acid, lysine, aspartic acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and combinations thereof.
- acetic acid formic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, an ammonium salt
- EDTA ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid
- the method comprises at least two of a pH buffer, complexing agent, and/or chelating agent.
- the nickel is provided in the second electroless plating bath in the form of a water soluble nickel salt.
- the nickel salt is selected from the group consisting of nickel chloride, nickel bromide, nickel iodide, nickel acetate, nickel malate, and nickel hypophosphite.
- the pH of the second electroless nickel plating bath is maintained at 4.5 to 5.0 and the temperature at 79°C to 93°C.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath comprises 2 g/l to 10 g/l nickel, 20 g/l to 35 g/l of the hypophosphorous reducing agent, 1 g/l to 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath comprises lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
- the etchant agent comprises an iron blackening agent and an acid, preferably, the etchant agent comprises ferric sulfate and hydrochloric acid.
- the substrate coated with the first and second electroless nickel coatings is contacted with an acid solution prior to contacting the substrate with the electroless copper plating bath.
- solvent can refer to a single solvent or a mixture of solvents.
- Approximating language may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as "about”, is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value.
- Embodiments described herein relate to methods of forming multilayer electroless nickel coatings on a substrate.
- the electroless nickel plating bath used to form the electroless nickel coatings, multilayer electroless nickel coatings, and/or black electroless nickel coatings described herein is free of sulfur compounds, such as organic sulfur compounds, and can form a sulfur-free electroless nickel coatings, which can be uniformly etched or blackened to provide a black electroless nickel coating.
- the electroless nickel plating bath replaces sulfur compounds, which have been typically employed in solutions for forming black electroless nickel coatings, with metallic containing compounds, such as zinc and bismuth. Replacement of the sulfur compounds with the metallic containing compound allows for improvements in operability, stability, and uniformity over current black electroless nickel plating methods.
- Sulfur containing electroless nickel plating baths used to form black electroless nickel coatings require the addition of spent components (e.g., nickel) at precise moments (e.g., additions made at last 5-10 minutes of plating to insure sulfur codeposition) in order to achieve a repeatable coloring effect. If the timing is not precise, the resulting effect will alter the black coloring to the point of possibly failing to produce the desired color.
- the proposed compositions, baths, and methods require no such addition, besides the normal addition to replenish spent components, as per the normal operation of an electroless nickel plating bath.
- Electroless nickel plating baths having a sulfur based chemistry also rely on the codeposition of the sulfur directly into the electroless nickel deposit. The result is often an uneven distribution of the sulfur across the substrate surface, resulting in a streaky, nonuniform coloring.
- the electroless nickel plating baths described herein do not rely on the presence of sulfur for co-deposition, and instead rely on the concentration of the available bismuth to allow for blackening of the electroless nickel plating deposit when exposed to an etchant.
- the presence of organic-sulfur compounds can cause decomposition of the sulfur compound at cathode surfaces forming very small particles of nickel sulfide which in turn adversely affects ductility, internal stress, electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of the deposit.
- the breakdown of the organic-sulfur compounds can result in byproducts that accumulate within the electroless nickel plating bath, which interferes with the deposition of the sulfur. This limits the potential age of the bath to 2 metal turnovers (MTOs) before issues begin to arise.
- MTOs metal turnovers
- the sulfur-free or non-sulfur containing electroless nickel plating baths have no such limitation, and can be plated out for at least 4 MTOs. During this time, there is no loss of uniformity or depth of color from makeup of electroless nickel deposit formed on a substrate from the electroless nickel plating bath.
- Electroless nickel plating baths that include zinc can plate at a slower rate. Plating at a slower rate causes a black electroless nickel deposit to be formed with an increased overall phosphorous content (e.g ., at least 5% increase) compared to electroless nickel deposits formed using typical sulfur based black electroless nickel chemistry, which contains on average 1-5% phosphorous. Black electroless nickel deposits with an increased phosphorous content prepared using the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating baths described herein are more corrosion resistant than electroless nickel deposits of other available sulfur based chemistry.
- the electroless nickel plating bath used to form the electroless nickel coating, multilayer coating, or black coating is free of a sulfur compound and can include an aqueous solution of nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, zinc, at least of one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, and a bismuth stabilizer.
- the nickel can be provided in the bath in the form of a water soluble nickel salt.
- the water-soluble nickel salts can include those which are soluble in the plating bath and which can yield an aqueous solution of a predetermined concentration.
- the nickel salt can be selected from the group consisting of nickel chloride, nickel bromide, nickel iodide, nickel acetate, nickel malate, a nickel hypophosphite and combinations thereof.
- the water-soluble nickel salts may be used alone or as a mixture.
- the concentration of nickel in the electroless nickel plating bath can be from about 1 g/L to 70 g/L. In other embodiments, the concentration of nickel in the electroless nickel plating bath can be about 4 g/L to about 6g/L. Electroless nickel coatings formed from sulfur-free electroless nickel baths that include about 4 g/l showed decrease in blackening; whereas electroless nickel coatings formed from sulfur-free electroless nickel baths with 8 g/l showed no increase in the resulting black deposit.
- the hypophosphorous reducing agent used in the bath can include any of a variety of hypophosphorous reducing agents used in known types of the electroless nickel plating baths.
- the hypophosphorous reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and combinations thereof.
- the concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent in the electroless nickel plating can differ with the respective types of hypophosphorous reducing agent and can be adjusted to vary the concentration of the phosphorous in the electroless nickel coating that is formed using the bath.
- the concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent in the electroless nickel plating bath can be about 15 g/L to about 40 g/L.
- the concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent in the electroless nickel plating bath can be about 20 to about 35 g/L.
- a decrease in concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent from about 30 g/l to about 25 g/l can result in a decrease in phosphorous in the electroless nickel coating so formed by 2%. This decrease in phosphorous content can result in a deeper black being produced upon blackening of the coating.
- the zinc or zinc ions can be incorporated into the electroless nickel plating bath by introducing a zinc compound into the bath.
- a zinc compound examples include zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, zinc chloride, zinc benzoate, zinc nitrate, zinc phosphate, zinc stearate, and zinc salicylate.
- the concentration of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath is about 40 ppm to about 100 ppm.
- a concentration of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath below 40 ppm can result in a loss of color of the electroless nickel coating formed from the bath.
- a concentration of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath above 100 ppm did not adversely affect color of the electroless nickel coating formed from the bath, but the plating rate substantially decreased.
- the bismuth stabilizer can be incorporated into the electroless nickel plating bath by introducing a bismuth salt into the bath, such as bismuth trichloride or bismuth nitrate.
- concentration of the bismuth stabilizer in the electroless nickel plating bath is about 5 ppm to about 30 ppm. The higher the concentration of bismuth stabilizer provided in the electroless nickel plating bath the deeper the black color that can be produced from an electroless nickel coating formed from the bath. At concentration of the bismuth stabilizer over about 30 ppm, the bath can become over-stabilized and further plating is inhibited.
- a complexing agent or a mixture of complexing agents is included in the electroless nickel plating bath.
- Complexing agents as used herein can also include chelating agents.
- the complexing agents and/or chelating agents generally retard the precipitation of nickel ions from the plating solution as insoluble salts, such as phosphites, by forming a more stable nickel complex with the nickel ions and provide for a moderate rate of the reaction of nickel precipitation.
- the complexing agents and/or chelating agents can be included in the plating bath in amounts sufficient to complex the nickel ions present in the bath and to further solubilize the hypophosphite degradation products formed during the plating process.
- complexing agents and/or chelating agents are employed in amounts of up to about 200 g/l with amounts of about 1 to about 75 g/l being more typical.
- the complexing agents and/or chelating agents are provided in the electroless nickel plating bath at amounts from about 20 to about 40 g/l.
- complexing agents used in known electroless nickel plating solutions, may be used.
- specific examples of the complexing agents may include monocarboxylic acids, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid or propionic acid, dicarboxylic acids, such as malic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid or adipic acid, aminocarboxylic acids, such as glycine or alanine, ethylene diamine derivatives, such as ethylenediamine tetraacetate, versenol (N-hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine-N,N',N'-triacetic acid) or quadrol (N,N,N', N'-tetrahydroxyethyl ethylene diamine), phosphnic acids, such as 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid and water-soluble salts thereof.
- the complexing agents may be used either alone or in
- Some complexing agents such as acetic acid or succinic, for example, may also act as a pH buffering agent, and the appropriate concentration of such additive components can be optimized for any plating bath after consideration of their dual functionality.
- At least one pH buffer, complexing agent, or chelating agent can be selected from the group consisting of an acetic acid, formic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, an ammonium salt, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, glycine, alanine, glycolic acid, lysine, aspartic acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and combinations thereof.
- mixtures of 2 or more of the above pH buffers, complexing agents, and/or chelating agents can be used in the electroless nickel plating bath described herein, with each pH buffer, complexing agent, and/or chelating agent being provided at a concentration of about of about 1 to about 75 g/l.
- the plating bath may also contain, in addition to the above components, additives with various kinds of purposes so long as the properties of the plating bath are not deteriorated.
- the aqueous electroless nickel plating baths can be operated or maintained at a pH of about 4.5 to about 5.0 during electroless nickel plating of the substrate.
- a pH of about 4.5 to about 5.0 the reducing reaction by the hypophosphorous reducing agent is allowed to occur efficiently to prevent decomposition of the hypophosphorous reducing agent as well as to prevent the performance of precipitation for plating from being deteriorated and to prevent the plating bath from being decomposed.
- this range of pH it is possible to prevent the plating bath from being lowered in stability as a result of the excessively high reducing potential of the reducing agent.
- At least one pH adjustment agent can be used to adjust the pH to the above range.
- the pH of the bath When the pH of the bath is too high, it can be adjusted by adding, for example, an acid.
- the pH of the bath is too low, it can be adjusted by adding, for example, ammonium hydroxide.
- the stability of the operating pH of the plating bath can be controlled by the addition of various buffer compounds such as acetic acid, propionic acid, boric acid, or the like, in amounts up to about 30 g/l with amounts of from about 2 to about 30 g/l being typical.
- buffering compounds such as acetic acid and succinic acid may also function as complexing agents.
- a substrate can be plated with the electroless nickel plating bath to provide an electroless nickel deposit or coating on the substrate.
- the substrate can be any substrate capable of supporting the electroless nickel coating but is typically a material for which the electroless nickel coating displays sufficient affinity to form a stable coating thereupon.
- Substrates may be inorganic materials, such as metals, or organic materials such as plastics, or composite materials, for example, organic polymer comprising inorganic filler.
- the substrate is a metal substrate.
- Non-limiting examples of metal substrates include iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper, aluminum, titanium, and the like.
- the substrate comprises steel.
- the substrate comprises low alloy steel, for example low alloy carbon steel.
- the substrate can be plated by contacting the substrate with or immersing the substrate in the plating bath for a duration time effective to form an electroless nickel coating or deposit on a desired surface of the substrate.
- the substrate can be cleaned or pre-processed prior to plating.
- the bath can be maintained at a bath temperature about 175°F to about 200°F.
- the duration of contact of the electroless nickel plating bath with the substrate being plated will determine the thickness of the electroless nickel coating.
- a contact time can range from as little as about one minute to several hours or even several days.
- mild agitation can be employed.
- the mild agitation can be, for example, a mild air agitation, mechanical agitation, bath circulation by pumping, rotation of a barrel for barrel plating, etc.
- the electroless nickel plating bath also may be subjected to a periodic or continuous filtration treatment to reduce the level of contaminants therein. Replenishment of the constituents of the bath may also be performed, in some embodiments, on a periodic or continuous basis to maintain the concentration of constituents, and in particular, the concentration of nickel ions and hypophosphite ions, as well as the pH level within the desired limits.
- the electroless nickel coated substrate so formed can be removed from the electroless nickel plating bath and rinsed, for example, with deionized water.
- the electroless nickel coating formed on a surface of the substrate using the electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness.
- the electroless nickel coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 250 microns.
- the electroless nickel coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 100 microns.
- the electroless nickel coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 10 microns.
- the electroless nickel coating can also have a phosphorous content of about 8% to about 11%.
- the electroless nickel coating can be a top coating that is plated over a mid-phosphorous (e.g., about 7% to about 9% phosphorous) or a high phosphorous (about 9% to about 13% phosphorous) electroless nickel under coating to form a duplex or multilayer electroless nickel deposit or coating.
- the duplex or multilayer electroless nickel coating can advantageously be blackened to form a black electroless nickel coating.
- Fig. 1 illustrates a flow diagram showing a method 10 of preparing a black electroless nickel coating on a substrate.
- a substrate can be contacted with a first electroless nickel plating bath, by, for example, immersing the substrate in the first electroless nickel plating bath, to form a first electroless nickel coating on the substrate.
- the first electroless nickel plating bath can include nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and optionally a sulfur compound, such as thiosulfates, thionic acid, or thiourea to provide a mid-phosphorous or high-phosphorous under coating.
- An example of an electroless nickel plating bath that can be used to produce a high phosphorous electroless nickel coating can include about 6 g/l nickel, about 36 g/l sodium hypophosphite, about 20 g/l malic acid, about 15 g/l lactic acid, about 5 g/l succinic acid, and about 0.4 ppm lead.
- An example of an electroless nickel plating bath that can be used to produce a mid phosphorous electroless nickel coating can include about 6 g/l nickel, about 30 g/l sodium hypophosphite, about 12 g/l malic acid, about 18 g/l lactic acid, about 14 g/l acetic acid, 1.0 ppm thiourea, and about 1.0 ppm lead.
- the electroless nickel coating formed on a surface of the substrate using the first electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness.
- the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 250 microns, or about 5 microns to about 100 microns.
- the thickness of the electroless nickel under coating be at least two times, three times, four times, or five times greater than the thickness of the top coat.
- the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 15 microns.
- the electroless nickel coating has a phosphorous content of about 7% to about 13%.
- the coated substrate can be removed from the first electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then contacted with the second electroless nickel plating bath to form a second electroless nickel coating over the first electroless coating.
- the coated substrate can be contacted with the second electroplating bath by, for example, immersing the coated substrate in the second electroless nickel plating bath for a duration a time effective to form the second electroless nickel coating or top coating.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath is different that the first electroless nickel plating bath and be formulated such that it is free of a sulfur compound as described above.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath includes nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, zinc, a bismuth stabilizer, and at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and is free of a sulfur compound.
- the electroless nickel plating bath can include lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
- the electroless nickel plating bath can include about 2 g/l to about 10 g/l nickel, about 20 g/l to about 35 g/l of a hypophosphorous reducing agent, about 1 g/l to about 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, about 40 ppm to about 120 ppm zinc, and about 5 ppm to about 30 ppm of a bismuth stabilizer.
- the second electroless nickel coating formed on first electroless nickel coating using the second electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness and an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the average thickness can be less than the thickness of the first electroless nickel coating and be in a range from about 1 micron to about 10 microns.
- the second electroless nickel coating can also have a phosphorous content of about 8% to about 11%.
- the multilayer or duplex coated substrate can be removed from the second electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then etched with an etching agent to provide the coated substrate with a black surface.
- the etchant agent can include an aqueous solution of an iron blackening agent and an acid.
- the etchant agent can include an aqueous solution of ferric sulfate and hydrochloric acid.
- the etchant agent can include ferric sulfate, hydrochloric acid, and reaction enhancer, such as potassium iodate.
- the temperature of the etchant agent can be about 70°F to 90°F and the coated substrate can be immersed in the etchant agent for a duration of time effective to blacken the coating, for example, for about 1 minute to about 3 minutes.
- the substrate On removal black electroless nickel coated substrate from the etchant agent, the substrate can be rinsed and dried.
- the black electroless coating so formed has a consistent uniform deposit of black electroless nickel with a uniform thickness and black coloring, which is streakless.
- the duplex or multilayer electroless nickel coating can advantageously be further plated with another material to modify the coating.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a flow diagram showing a method 20 of preparing an electroless copper-nickel coating on a substrate.
- a substrate can be contacted with a first electroless nickel plating bath, by, for example, immersing the substrate in the first electroless nickel plating bath, to form a first electroless nickel coating on the substrate.
- the first electroless nickel plating bath can include nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and optionally a sulfur compound, such as thiosulfates, thionic acid, or thiourea to provide a mid-phosphorous or high-phosphorous under coating.
- a hypophosphorous reducing agent at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer
- a sulfur compound such as thiosulfates, thionic acid, or thiourea to provide a mid-phosphorous or high-phosphorous under coating.
- the electroless nickel coating formed on a surface of the substrate using the first electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness.
- the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 250 microns, or about 5 microns to about 100 microns.
- the thickness of the electroless nickel under coating be at least two times, three times, four times, or more greater that the thickness of the top coat.
- the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 15 microns.
- the electroless nickel coating has a phosphorous content of about 7% to about 13%.
- the coated substrate can be removed from the first electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then contacted with the second electroless nickel plating bath to form a second electroless nickel coating over the first electroless coating.
- the coated substrate can be contacted with the second electroplating bath by, for example, immersing the coated substrate in the second electroless nickel plating bath for a duration a time effective to form the second electroless nickel coating or top coating.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath is different that the first electroless nickel plating bath and be formulated such that it is free of a sulfur compound as described above.
- the second electroless nickel plating bath is includes nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, zinc, a bismuth stabilizer, and at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and is free of a sulfur compound.
- the electroless nickel plating bath can include lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
- the electroless nickel plating bath can include about 2 g/l to about 10 g/l of nickel, about 20 g/l to about 35 g/l hypophosphorous reducing agent, about 1 g/l to about 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, about 40 ppm to about 120 ppm zinc, and about 5 ppm to about 30 ppm bismuth stabilizer.
- the second electroless nickel coating formed on first electroless nickel coating using the second electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness and an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the average thickness can be less than the thickness of the first electroless nickel coating and be in a range from about 1 micron to about 10 microns.
- the second electroless nickel coating has a phosphorous content of about 8% to about 11%.
- the multilayer or duplex coated substrate can be removed from the second electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then immersed in an acid solution, such as a hydrochloric acid solution, to reactivate the surface of the coating. Reactivation of the surface using an acid solution was found to advantageously enhance copper deposition in the subsequent copper coating step.
- the multilayer or duplex coated substrate can be removed from the acidic solution, optionally rinsed, and then contacted with an electroless copper plating bath by, for example, immersing the duplex coated substrate in the electroless copper plating bath.
- the electroless copper plating bath can include an aqueous solution of copper sulfate pentahydrate and sulfuric acid.
- the coated substrate can be immersed in the electroless copper plating bath for a duration of time effective to form a copper coating, for example, for about 1 minute to about 3 minutes.
- the substrate On removal electroless copper-nickel coated substrate from the electroless copper plating bath, the substrate can be rinsed and dried.
- the electroless copper-nickel coating so formed had a consistent uniform deposit with a uniform thickness and copper coloring.
- a black electroless coating was prepared using a high phosphorous nickel undercoating, a sulfur free electroless nickel top coating, and an acidic iron sulfate etchant.
- the high-phosphorous electroless nickel plating bath was prepared with the following formulation: High Phosphorus electroless nickel plating bath Nickel Metal 6 g/l Sodium Hypophosphite 36 g/l Malic Acid 20 g/l Lactic Acid 15 g/l Succinic Acid 5 g/l Lead 0.4 ppm pH 4.6 -4.8 Temperature 190°F
- the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath was prepared with the following formulation.
- the etchant agent for blackening the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath was prepared with the following formulation.
- An undercoat of the high phosphorous electroless nickel was plated on a steel substrate for a time of about 1 hour, to provide a high phosphorous electroless nickel coating having a thickness of about 0.50 mils.
- the steel substrate was then rinsed and placed in the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath for 30 minutes, to provide an electroless nickel top coat with a thickness of about 0.15 mils.
- the steel substrate was then removed from the sulfur-free electroless nickel bath, rinsed for 30 seconds, then submerged in the etchant solution for about 1 minute.
- the steel substrate was again removed, rinsed, and allowed to set for 24 hours for maximum hardness.
- the chemistry of the process allowed the electroless nickel coated steel substrate to be stored following the application of the undercoating for a later date, if the user desires. If this is the case, the electroless nickel coated steel substrate would need to be electrocleaned and reactivated in 50% HCl acid before the steel substrate can be submerged
- Each component of the electroless solution was modified in an attempt to increase the black produced.
- the concentration was adjusted in order to compensate for the increased Acetic Acid in solution. Trials to judge the effect that ammonia played in the solution, resulted in attempting to produce an ammonia-free chemistry, but the resulting solution would not blacken.
- the Succinic acid was added to assist in controlling the phosphorus content and deepening the final color. Trialed concentrations that went up to 12 g/l. The result was a darker overall deposit up to 8 g/l, which gradually decrease as the concentrations exceed this amount.
- Intrinsic Stress was also measured at 0 and 4 MTOs to determine the effect the higher levels of Bismuth would have on the bath. The values were measured to be 1500 PSI compressive in both cases. Further testing was also performed to determine proper adhesion. In this case, the deposit at 0 and 4 MTOs were subjected to the Quench Test (the rapid heating then cooling of the deposit), bend test (the deposit was bent to 90° and examined to look for poor adhesion for deposit to substrate), and the Scribe test (In which the deposit's surface is marred and then examined for cracks due to stress). The proposed chemistry passed all the tests.
- the duplex coated substrate with the sulfur-free electroless nickel top coating prepared by process described above was further studied by subjecting the duplex coating to a copper immersion process for bare steel surfaces.
- the duplex coated steel substrate described above was immersed in an electroless copper bath having the following formulation.
- FIG. 6 An example of the deposit so formed is illustrated in Fig. 6 . Testing showed than an intermediate step is need to reactivate the surface before exposure to the electroless copper plating bath.
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Description
- This application relates to electroless nickel coatings, methods for forming the electroless nickel coating, and electroless nickel baths for forming the electroless nickel coatings.
- Electroless nickel plating is a widely utilized plating process, which provides a continuous deposit of a nickel metal or nickel/alloy coating on metallic or non-metallic substrates without the need for external electric plating current. Electroless plating has been described as a controlled autocatalytic chemical reduction process for depositing metals. The process involves a continuous buildup of a nickel coating on a substrate by immersion of the substrate in a nickel plating bath under appropriate electroless plating conditions. The plating baths generally comprise an electroless nickel salt and a reducing agent. Some electroless nickel baths use hypophosphite ions as a reducing agent, and during the process, the hypophosphite ions are oxidized to orthophosphite ions, and the nickel cations in the plating bath are reduced to form a nickel phosphorous alloy as a deposit on the desired substrate surface. As the reaction proceeds, the level of orthophosphite ions in the bath increases, and the orthophosphite ions often are precipitated from the plating solutions as insoluble metal orthophosphites. Typically, the source of nickel ions in the electroless plating baths described in the prior art has included nickel chloride, nickel sulfate, nickel bromide, nickel fluoroborate, nickel sulfonate, nickel sulfamate, and nickel alkyl sulfonates.
- In order to have a continuous and consistent electroless plating process, the reactants must be replenished. The frequency at which additions of the reactants are made to the bath depends on how far the concentrations of the reacting species can be allowed to vary from their optimum concentrations without adversely affecting the plating process, or concurrently the deposit. The electroless plating reaction not only yields a nickel alloy deposit; it also generates by-products, which accumulate in solution. As the concentration of the by-products increase, their influence on the plating reaction also increases.
- Electroless nickel-phosphorous coatings can be chemically treated, e.g., etched, to produce black coatings (Ni-P black). These black electroless nickel coatings can act as efficient absorbers and be used as very low reflectance coatings in optical instruments and sensors. Chemical etching of electroless nickel-phosphorous coatings typically involves acid etching of low (1-3% phosphorous) or medium-low (3-6% phosphorous) nickel phosphorous alloys. Higher phosphorous content alloys are not suitable because they are too corrosion resistant to blacken as result of acid etching.
- Japanese patent application
JP 2007/7154223 A - US patent application
US 2004/0144285 A1 discloses an electrolyte for electroless deposition of metal layers with internal compressive stresses containing a metal base salt, a reducing agent, a complexing agent, an accelerator and a stabilizer, where preferably nickel, copper, silver or gold, especially preferably nickel is used as metal. - Japanese patent application
JP 2005/ 290400 A -
US patent 4,511,614 discloses a process for producing an optically black coating having high absorptivity and emissivity values utilizing an electroless nickel plating process, and to a substrate provided with said black coating. - The present invention is directed to a method for forming a multilayer electroless metal coating on a substrate, the method comprising:
- i. contacting the substrate with a first electroless nickel plating bath to form a first eletroless nickel coating on the substrate, the first electroless nickel coating having a phosphorus content of 7% to 13% by weight
- ii. contacting the substrate coated with the first electroless coating with a second aqueous electroless nickel plating bath to form a second electroless nickel coating over the first electroless coating, the second electroless coating having a phosphorous content of 8% to 11%, the second bath including nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, 40 ppm to 100 ppm zinc, at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, and 5 ppm to 30 ppm bismuth stabilizer, wherein the bath is free of an organic sulfur compound;
- iii. etching the second electroless nickel coating with an etchant agent to provide the coated substrate with a black surface or contacting the substrate coated with the first and second electroless nickel coatings with an electroless copper plating bath to provide a copper top coat.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the hypophosphorous reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and combinations thereof.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the second electroless nickel plating bath includes at least one pH buffer, complexing agent, or chelating agent selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, an ammonium salt, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, glycine, alanine, glycolic acid, lysine, aspartic acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and combinations thereof.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the method comprises at least two of a pH buffer, complexing agent, and/or chelating agent.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the nickel is provided in the second electroless plating bath in the form of a water soluble nickel salt.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the nickel salt is selected from the group consisting of nickel chloride, nickel bromide, nickel iodide, nickel acetate, nickel malate, and nickel hypophosphite.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the pH of the second electroless nickel plating bath is maintained at 4.5 to 5.0 and the temperature at 79°C to 93°C.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the second electroless nickel plating bath comprises 2 g/l to 10 g/l nickel, 20 g/l to 35 g/l of the hypophosphorous reducing agent, 1 g/l to 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the second electroless nickel plating bath comprises lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the etchant agent comprises an iron blackening agent and an acid, preferably, the etchant agent comprises ferric sulfate and hydrochloric acid.
- In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the substrate coated with the first and second electroless nickel coatings is contacted with an acid solution prior to contacting the substrate with the electroless copper plating bath.
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Fig. 1 illustrates a flow diagram showing a black electroless nickel plating process in accordance with an embodiment. -
Fig. 2 illustrates a flow diagram showing an electroless copper-nickel plating process in accordance with another embodiment. -
Fig. 3 illustrates a graph comparing the rates of deposition per metal turnover (MTO) of electroless nickel coatings formed using an electroless nickel plating bath in accordance with an embodiment of the application and using a commercially available electroless nickel plating bath. -
Fig. 4 illustrates a graph showing the percent phosphorous content per metal turnover (MTO) of electroless nickel deposits formed using an electroless nickel plating bath in accordance with an embodiment of the application. -
Fig. 5 illustrates a photograph comparing black electroless nickel coatings subjected to neutral salt spray formed using an electroless nickel plating bath in accordance with an embodiment of the application and using a commercially available electroless nickel plating bath. -
Fig. 6 illustrates a photograph showing an electroless copper-nickel multilayer coating prepared in accordance with an embodiment. -
Fig. 7 illustrates a photograph comparing various electroless nickel deposits coated with an electroless copper coating. - In the specification and the claims, which follow, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings.
- The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
- "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not.
- As used herein, the term "solvent" can refer to a single solvent or a mixture of solvents.
- It is also understood that terms such as "top," "bottom," "outward," "inward," and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Furthermore, whenever a particular feature of the invention is said to comprise or consist of at least one of a number of elements of a group and combinations thereof, it is understood that the feature may comprise or consist of any of the elements of the group, either individually or in combination with any of the other elements of that group.
- Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as "about", is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value.
- Embodiments described herein relate to methods of forming multilayer electroless nickel coatings on a substrate.
- The electroless nickel plating bath used to form the electroless nickel coatings, multilayer electroless nickel coatings, and/or black electroless nickel coatings described herein is free of sulfur compounds, such as organic sulfur compounds, and can form a sulfur-free electroless nickel coatings, which can be uniformly etched or blackened to provide a black electroless nickel coating. The electroless nickel plating bath replaces sulfur compounds, which have been typically employed in solutions for forming black electroless nickel coatings, with metallic containing compounds, such as zinc and bismuth. Replacement of the sulfur compounds with the metallic containing compound allows for improvements in operability, stability, and uniformity over current black electroless nickel plating methods.
- Sulfur containing electroless nickel plating baths used to form black electroless nickel coatings require the addition of spent components (e.g., nickel) at precise moments (e.g., additions made at last 5-10 minutes of plating to insure sulfur codeposition) in order to achieve a repeatable coloring effect. If the timing is not precise, the resulting effect will alter the black coloring to the point of possibly failing to produce the desired color. The proposed compositions, baths, and methods require no such addition, besides the normal addition to replenish spent components, as per the normal operation of an electroless nickel plating bath.
- Electroless nickel plating baths having a sulfur based chemistry also rely on the codeposition of the sulfur directly into the electroless nickel deposit. The result is often an uneven distribution of the sulfur across the substrate surface, resulting in a streaky, nonuniform coloring. The electroless nickel plating baths described herein do not rely on the presence of sulfur for co-deposition, and instead rely on the concentration of the available bismuth to allow for blackening of the electroless nickel plating deposit when exposed to an etchant. The presence of organic-sulfur compounds can cause decomposition of the sulfur compound at cathode surfaces forming very small particles of nickel sulfide which in turn adversely affects ductility, internal stress, electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of the deposit. The breakdown of the organic-sulfur compounds can result in byproducts that accumulate within the electroless nickel plating bath, which interferes with the deposition of the sulfur. This limits the potential age of the bath to 2 metal turnovers (MTOs) before issues begin to arise. The sulfur-free or non-sulfur containing electroless nickel plating baths have no such limitation, and can be plated out for at least 4 MTOs. During this time, there is no loss of uniformity or depth of color from makeup of electroless nickel deposit formed on a substrate from the electroless nickel plating bath.
- Advantageously the inclusion of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath causes electroless nickel deposit to be formed with an increased phosphorous content. Electroless nickel plating baths that include zinc can plate at a slower rate. Plating at a slower rate causes a black electroless nickel deposit to be formed with an increased overall phosphorous content (e.g., at least 5% increase) compared to electroless nickel deposits formed using typical sulfur based black electroless nickel chemistry, which contains on average 1-5% phosphorous. Black electroless nickel deposits with an increased phosphorous content prepared using the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating baths described herein are more corrosion resistant than electroless nickel deposits of other available sulfur based chemistry.
- In some embodiments, the electroless nickel plating bath used to form the electroless nickel coating, multilayer coating, or black coating is free of a sulfur compound and can include an aqueous solution of nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, zinc, at least of one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, and a bismuth stabilizer.
- The nickel can be provided in the bath in the form of a water soluble nickel salt. The water-soluble nickel salts can include those which are soluble in the plating bath and which can yield an aqueous solution of a predetermined concentration. The nickel salt can be selected from the group consisting of nickel chloride, nickel bromide, nickel iodide, nickel acetate, nickel malate, a nickel hypophosphite and combinations thereof. The water-soluble nickel salts may be used alone or as a mixture.
- In some embodiments, the concentration of nickel in the electroless nickel plating bath can be from about 1 g/L to 70 g/L. In other embodiments, the concentration of nickel in the electroless nickel plating bath can be about 4 g/L to about 6g/L. Electroless nickel coatings formed from sulfur-free electroless nickel baths that include about 4 g/l showed decrease in blackening; whereas electroless nickel coatings formed from sulfur-free electroless nickel baths with 8 g/l showed no increase in the resulting black deposit.
- The hypophosphorous reducing agent used in the bath can include any of a variety of hypophosphorous reducing agents used in known types of the electroless nickel plating baths. In some embodiments, the hypophosphorous reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and combinations thereof.
- The concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent in the electroless nickel plating can differ with the respective types of hypophosphorous reducing agent and can be adjusted to vary the concentration of the phosphorous in the electroless nickel coating that is formed using the bath. In some embodiments, the concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent in the electroless nickel plating bath can be about 15 g/L to about 40 g/L. In other embodiments, the concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent in the electroless nickel plating bath can be about 20 to about 35 g/L. A decrease in concentration of the hypophosphorous reducing agent from about 30 g/l to about 25 g/l can result in a decrease in phosphorous in the electroless nickel coating so formed by 2%. This decrease in phosphorous content can result in a deeper black being produced upon blackening of the coating.
- The zinc or zinc ions can be incorporated into the electroless nickel plating bath by introducing a zinc compound into the bath. Examples of the zinc compound are zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, zinc chloride, zinc benzoate, zinc nitrate, zinc phosphate, zinc stearate, and zinc salicylate.
- The concentration of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath is about 40 ppm to about 100 ppm. A concentration of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath below 40 ppm can result in a loss of color of the electroless nickel coating formed from the bath. A concentration of zinc in the electroless nickel plating bath above 100 ppm did not adversely affect color of the electroless nickel coating formed from the bath, but the plating rate substantially decreased.
- The bismuth stabilizer can be incorporated into the electroless nickel plating bath by introducing a bismuth salt into the bath, such as bismuth trichloride or bismuth nitrate. The concentration of the bismuth stabilizer in the electroless nickel plating bath is about 5 ppm to about 30 ppm. The higher the concentration of bismuth stabilizer provided in the electroless nickel plating bath the deeper the black color that can be produced from an electroless nickel coating formed from the bath. At concentration of the bismuth stabilizer over about 30 ppm, the bath can become over-stabilized and further plating is inhibited.
- A complexing agent or a mixture of complexing agents is included in the electroless nickel plating bath. Complexing agents as used herein can also include chelating agents. The complexing agents and/or chelating agents generally retard the precipitation of nickel ions from the plating solution as insoluble salts, such as phosphites, by forming a more stable nickel complex with the nickel ions and provide for a moderate rate of the reaction of nickel precipitation.
- The complexing agents and/or chelating agents can be included in the plating bath in amounts sufficient to complex the nickel ions present in the bath and to further solubilize the hypophosphite degradation products formed during the plating process. Generally complexing agents and/or chelating agents are employed in amounts of up to about 200 g/l with amounts of about 1 to about 75 g/l being more typical. In other embodiments, the complexing agents and/or chelating agents are provided in the electroless nickel plating bath at amounts from about 20 to about 40 g/l.
- A variety of complexing agents, used in known electroless nickel plating solutions, may be used. Specific examples of the complexing agents may include monocarboxylic acids, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid or propionic acid, dicarboxylic acids, such as malic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid or adipic acid, aminocarboxylic acids, such as glycine or alanine, ethylene diamine derivatives, such as ethylenediamine tetraacetate, versenol (N-hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine-N,N',N'-triacetic acid) or quadrol (N,N,N', N'-tetrahydroxyethyl ethylene diamine), phosphnic acids, such as 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid and water-soluble salts thereof. The complexing agents may be used either alone or in combination.
- Some complexing agents, such as acetic acid or succinic, for example, may also act as a pH buffering agent, and the appropriate concentration of such additive components can be optimized for any plating bath after consideration of their dual functionality.
- In some embodiments, at least one pH buffer, complexing agent, or chelating agent can be selected from the group consisting of an acetic acid, formic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, an ammonium salt, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, glycine, alanine, glycolic acid, lysine, aspartic acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, mixtures of 2 or more of the above pH buffers, complexing agents, and/or chelating agents can be used in the electroless nickel plating bath described herein, with each pH buffer, complexing agent, and/or chelating agent being provided at a concentration of about of about 1 to about 75 g/l.
- The plating bath may also contain, in addition to the above components, additives with various kinds of purposes so long as the properties of the plating bath are not deteriorated.
- The aqueous electroless nickel plating baths can be operated or maintained at a pH of about 4.5 to about 5.0 during electroless nickel plating of the substrate. With this range of pH, the reducing reaction by the hypophosphorous reducing agent is allowed to occur efficiently to prevent decomposition of the hypophosphorous reducing agent as well as to prevent the performance of precipitation for plating from being deteriorated and to prevent the plating bath from being decomposed. Moreover, with this range of pH, it is possible to prevent the plating bath from being lowered in stability as a result of the excessively high reducing potential of the reducing agent.
- At least one pH adjustment agent can be used to adjust the pH to the above range. When the pH of the bath is too high, it can be adjusted by adding, for example, an acid. When the pH of the bath is too low, it can be adjusted by adding, for example, ammonium hydroxide.
- The stability of the operating pH of the plating bath can be controlled by the addition of various buffer compounds such as acetic acid, propionic acid, boric acid, or the like, in amounts up to about 30 g/l with amounts of from about 2 to about 30 g/l being typical. As noted above, some of the buffering compounds such as acetic acid and succinic acid may also function as complexing agents.
- In accordance with the methods described herein, a substrate can be plated with the electroless nickel plating bath to provide an electroless nickel deposit or coating on the substrate. The substrate can be any substrate capable of supporting the electroless nickel coating but is typically a material for which the electroless nickel coating displays sufficient affinity to form a stable coating thereupon. Substrates may be inorganic materials, such as metals, or organic materials such as plastics, or composite materials, for example, organic polymer comprising inorganic filler. In one embodiment, the substrate is a metal substrate. Non-limiting examples of metal substrates include iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper, aluminum, titanium, and the like. In another embodiment, the substrate comprises steel. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises low alloy steel, for example low alloy carbon steel.
- The substrate can be plated by contacting the substrate with or immersing the substrate in the plating bath for a duration time effective to form an electroless nickel coating or deposit on a desired surface of the substrate. In some embodiment, the substrate can be cleaned or pre-processed prior to plating. During plating, the bath can be maintained at a bath temperature about 175°F to about 200°F. The duration of contact of the electroless nickel plating bath with the substrate being plated will determine the thickness of the electroless nickel coating. Typically, a contact time can range from as little as about one minute to several hours or even several days.
- During the deposition of the electroless nickel deposit or coating, mild agitation can be employed. The mild agitation can be, for example, a mild air agitation, mechanical agitation, bath circulation by pumping, rotation of a barrel for barrel plating, etc. The electroless nickel plating bath also may be subjected to a periodic or continuous filtration treatment to reduce the level of contaminants therein. Replenishment of the constituents of the bath may also be performed, in some embodiments, on a periodic or continuous basis to maintain the concentration of constituents, and in particular, the concentration of nickel ions and hypophosphite ions, as well as the pH level within the desired limits.
- The electroless nickel coated substrate so formed can be removed from the electroless nickel plating bath and rinsed, for example, with deionized water.
- The electroless nickel coating formed on a surface of the substrate using the electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness. In one embodiment, the electroless nickel coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 250 microns. In another embodiment, the electroless nickel coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 100 microns. In yet another embodiment, the electroless nickel coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 10 microns. The electroless nickel coating can also have a phosphorous content of about 8% to about 11%.
- In some embodiments, the electroless nickel coating can be a top coating that is plated over a mid-phosphorous (e.g., about 7% to about 9% phosphorous) or a high phosphorous (about 9% to about 13% phosphorous) electroless nickel under coating to form a duplex or multilayer electroless nickel deposit or coating. The duplex or multilayer electroless nickel coating can advantageously be blackened to form a black electroless nickel coating.
-
Fig. 1 illustrates a flow diagram showing amethod 10 of preparing a black electroless nickel coating on a substrate. In themethod 10, at step 12 a substrate can be contacted with a first electroless nickel plating bath, by, for example, immersing the substrate in the first electroless nickel plating bath, to form a first electroless nickel coating on the substrate. The first electroless nickel plating bath can include nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and optionally a sulfur compound, such as thiosulfates, thionic acid, or thiourea to provide a mid-phosphorous or high-phosphorous under coating. - An example of an electroless nickel plating bath that can be used to produce a high phosphorous electroless nickel coating can include about 6 g/l nickel, about 36 g/l sodium hypophosphite, about 20 g/l malic acid, about 15 g/l lactic acid, about 5 g/l succinic acid, and about 0.4 ppm lead.
- An example of an electroless nickel plating bath that can be used to produce a mid phosphorous electroless nickel coating can include about 6 g/l nickel, about 30 g/l sodium hypophosphite, about 12 g/l malic acid, about 18 g/l lactic acid, about 14 g/l acetic acid, 1.0 ppm thiourea, and about 1.0 ppm lead.
- The electroless nickel coating formed on a surface of the substrate using the first electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness. In one embodiment, the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 250 microns, or about 5 microns to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the thickness of the electroless nickel under coating be at least two times, three times, four times, or five times greater than the thickness of the top coat. In yet another embodiment, the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 15 microns. The electroless nickel coating has a phosphorous content of about 7% to about 13%.
- After formation of the first electroless nickel under coating on the surface of the substrate, at
step 14, the coated substrate can be removed from the first electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then contacted with the second electroless nickel plating bath to form a second electroless nickel coating over the first electroless coating. The coated substrate can be contacted with the second electroplating bath by, for example, immersing the coated substrate in the second electroless nickel plating bath for a duration a time effective to form the second electroless nickel coating or top coating. - The second electroless nickel plating bath is different that the first electroless nickel plating bath and be formulated such that it is free of a sulfur compound as described above. In some embodiments, the second electroless nickel plating bath includes nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, zinc, a bismuth stabilizer, and at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and is free of a sulfur compound. In other embodiments, the electroless nickel plating bath can include lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. In still other embodiments, the electroless nickel plating bath can include about 2 g/l to about 10 g/l nickel, about 20 g/l to about 35 g/l of a hypophosphorous reducing agent, about 1 g/l to about 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, about 40 ppm to about 120 ppm zinc, and about 5 ppm to about 30 ppm of a bismuth stabilizer.
- The second electroless nickel coating formed on first electroless nickel coating using the second electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness and an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the average thickness can be less than the thickness of the first electroless nickel coating and be in a range from about 1 micron to about 10 microns. The second electroless nickel coating can also have a phosphorous content of about 8% to about 11%.
- Following formation of the second electroless nickel top coating over the first electroless nickel coating, at
step 16, the multilayer or duplex coated substrate can be removed from the second electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then etched with an etching agent to provide the coated substrate with a black surface. The etchant agent can include an aqueous solution of an iron blackening agent and an acid. In some embodiments, the etchant agent can include an aqueous solution of ferric sulfate and hydrochloric acid. In still other embodiments, the etchant agent can include ferric sulfate, hydrochloric acid, and reaction enhancer, such as potassium iodate. The temperature of the etchant agent can be about 70°F to 90°F and the coated substrate can be immersed in the etchant agent for a duration of time effective to blacken the coating, for example, for about 1 minute to about 3 minutes. - On removal black electroless nickel coated substrate from the etchant agent, the substrate can be rinsed and dried. The black electroless coating so formed has a consistent uniform deposit of black electroless nickel with a uniform thickness and black coloring, which is streakless.
- In other embodiments, the duplex or multilayer electroless nickel coating can advantageously be further plated with another material to modify the coating.
Fig. 2 illustrates a flow diagram showing amethod 20 of preparing an electroless copper-nickel coating on a substrate. In themethod 20, at step 22 a substrate can be contacted with a first electroless nickel plating bath, by, for example, immersing the substrate in the first electroless nickel plating bath, to form a first electroless nickel coating on the substrate. The first electroless nickel plating bath can include nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and optionally a sulfur compound, such as thiosulfates, thionic acid, or thiourea to provide a mid-phosphorous or high-phosphorous under coating. - The electroless nickel coating formed on a surface of the substrate using the first electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness. In one embodiment, the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 250 microns, or about 5 microns to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the thickness of the electroless nickel under coating be at least two times, three times, four times, or more greater that the thickness of the top coat. In yet another embodiment, the electroless nickel under coating can have an average thickness in a range from about 5 micron to about 15 microns. The electroless nickel coating has a phosphorous content of about 7% to about 13%.
- After formation of the first electroless nickel under coating on the surface of the substrate, at
step 24, the coated substrate can be removed from the first electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then contacted with the second electroless nickel plating bath to form a second electroless nickel coating over the first electroless coating. The coated substrate can be contacted with the second electroplating bath by, for example, immersing the coated substrate in the second electroless nickel plating bath for a duration a time effective to form the second electroless nickel coating or top coating. - The second electroless nickel plating bath is different that the first electroless nickel plating bath and be formulated such that it is free of a sulfur compound as described above. In some embodiments, the second electroless nickel plating bath is includes nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, zinc, a bismuth stabilizer, and at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, or pH buffer, and is free of a sulfur compound. In other embodiments, the electroless nickel plating bath can include lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. In still other embodiments, the electroless nickel plating bath can include about 2 g/l to about 10 g/l of nickel, about 20 g/l to about 35 g/l hypophosphorous reducing agent, about 1 g/l to about 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, about 40 ppm to about 120 ppm zinc, and about 5 ppm to about 30 ppm bismuth stabilizer.
- The second electroless nickel coating formed on first electroless nickel coating using the second electroless nickel plating bath can have of relatively uniform thickness and an average thickness in a range from about 1 micron to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the average thickness can be less than the thickness of the first electroless nickel coating and be in a range from about 1 micron to about 10 microns. The second electroless nickel coating has a phosphorous content of about 8% to about 11%.
- Following formation of the second electroless nickel top coating over the first electroless nickel coating, at
step 26, the multilayer or duplex coated substrate can be removed from the second electroless nickel plating bath, optionally rinsed, and then immersed in an acid solution, such as a hydrochloric acid solution, to reactivate the surface of the coating. Reactivation of the surface using an acid solution was found to advantageously enhance copper deposition in the subsequent copper coating step. - Following reactivation of the duplex coating, at
step 28, the multilayer or duplex coated substrate can be removed from the acidic solution, optionally rinsed, and then contacted with an electroless copper plating bath by, for example, immersing the duplex coated substrate in the electroless copper plating bath. The electroless copper plating bath can include an aqueous solution of copper sulfate pentahydrate and sulfuric acid. The coated substrate can be immersed in the electroless copper plating bath for a duration of time effective to form a copper coating, for example, for about 1 minute to about 3 minutes. - On removal electroless copper-nickel coated substrate from the electroless copper plating bath, the substrate can be rinsed and dried. The electroless copper-nickel coating so formed had a consistent uniform deposit with a uniform thickness and copper coloring.
- The following examples illustrate the electroless nickel plating solutions of the invention. Unless otherwise indicated in the following examples, in the written description and in the claims, all parts and percentages are by weight, temperatures are in degrees centigrade and pressure is at or near atmospheric pressure.
- A black electroless coating was prepared using a high phosphorous nickel undercoating, a sulfur free electroless nickel top coating, and an acidic iron sulfate etchant.
- The high-phosphorous electroless nickel plating bath was prepared with the following formulation:
High Phosphorus electroless nickel plating bath Nickel Metal 6 g/l Sodium Hypophosphite 36 g/l Malic Acid 20 g/l Lactic Acid 15 g/l Succinic Acid 5 g/l Lead 0.4 ppm pH 4.6 -4.8 Temperature 190°F - The sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath was prepared with the following formulation.
Sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath Lactic Acid 20 g/l Acetic Acid 28 g/l Malic Acid 3 g/l Succinic Acid 8 g/l Sodium Hypophosphite 25 g/l Ammonium Hydroxide 34 g/l Nickel 6 g/l Zinc 100 ppm Bismuth Trichloride 15 ppm EDTA 100 ppm Temperature (EN Bath) = 192°F pH= 4.8 - The etchant agent for blackening the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath was prepared with the following formulation.
Etchant agent 50% Ferric Sulfate 50% of total volume of 12M Hydrochloride Acid 2.5% of total Volume of Potassium Iodate 50 ppm Temperature (Blackening Agent) = 70°F - An undercoat of the high phosphorous electroless nickel was plated on a steel substrate for a time of about 1 hour, to provide a high phosphorous electroless nickel coating having a thickness of about 0.50 mils. The steel substrate was then rinsed and placed in the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath for 30 minutes, to provide an electroless nickel top coat with a thickness of about 0.15 mils. The steel substrate was then removed from the sulfur-free electroless nickel bath, rinsed for 30 seconds, then submerged in the etchant solution for about 1 minute. The steel substrate was again removed, rinsed, and allowed to set for 24 hours for maximum hardness. The chemistry of the process allowed the electroless nickel coated steel substrate to be stored following the application of the undercoating for a later date, if the user desires. If this is the case, the electroless nickel coated steel substrate would need to be electrocleaned and reactivated in 50% HCl acid before the steel substrate can be submerged
- A summary of the black electroless nickel plating process is shown below. Process:
- 1.) Appropriate clean cycle for substrate being plated.
- 2.) EN High Phosphorous bath - 60 mins.
- 3.) Rinse- 30 secs
- 4.) Electroclean-2 mins*
- 5.) Activation- 10 secs*
- 6.) Proposed Sulfur-free EN Bath- 30 mins
- 7.) Rinse- 30 secs
- 8.) Ferric Sulfate Solution-1 min
- 9.) Rinse 30 secs
- 10.) Blow dry parts
- Each component of the electroless solution was modified in an attempt to increase the black produced.
- 20% increase showed no benefit, while a 20% decrease seemed to result in slight increase in black. Further removal of the Lactic acid, 40% and 60% decrease, resulted in no increase of the depth of the black, but the bath began to display stability issues.
- 20% decreased had no effect on the final product. 20% increase caused slight increase in black. Further increase of Acetic Acid showed no benefit in overall deposit quality.
- Any increase of in Malic resulted in a decrease in the black coloring. When complete removal was trialed, the result was the best produce black coloring, but stability issues were seen when the levels dropped to under 3 g/l.
- Showed no effect on the black when the levels were increased or decreased. For this reason, Glycine was removed completely from the formula to lower potential cost.
- Tested reduction in solution in an attempt to reduce the %P in the deposit. From the initial amount, the concentration was reduced to 25 g/l from 30 g/l, which resulted a drop in percent phosphorous by 2% in the final product. This drop resulted in a deeper black being produced.
- The concentration was adjusted in order to compensate for the increased Acetic Acid in solution. Trials to judge the effect that ammonia played in the solution, resulted in attempting to produce an ammonia-free chemistry, but the resulting solution would not blacken.
- Trials at 4 g/l showed decrease in blacking, where as a solution with 8 g/l showed no increase in the resulting black deposit
- The Succinic acid was added to assist in controlling the phosphorus content and deepening the final color. Trialed concentrations that went up to 12 g/l. The result was a darker overall deposit up to 8 g/l, which gradually decrease as the concentrations exceed this amount.
- Increasing or decreasing the amount in solution showed no final effect on the black color. Amounts were left at initial level to ensure proper chelation of addition metals.
- When trials dropped this amount below 40 ppm, the result was a loss of color. Trials in which the amount was increased above 100 ppm, there was no effect on the black produced, but the plating rate drops sharply.
- Trials showed that higher the concentration that can be maintain, deeper the black that is produced. Although if you exceed 30ppm, the bath would become over-stabilized and further plating would be impossible. 15 ppm would allow for 1 hour of plating without any replenishment before an effect in the black color can be observed.
- Initial Testing on the life of the bath, showed that the bath is able to age out to at least 4 metal turnovers (MTOs) with no loss in color or uniformity compared to conventional electroless nickel baths, such as a sulfur-compound containing, mid-phosphorous electroless nickel plating bath. The rate of deposition per metal turnover (MTO) of electroless nickel coatings formed using the sulfur-free electroless nickel plating bath was compared with the rate of deposition per metal turnover (MTO) using a commercially available electroless nickel plating bath. (
Fig. 3 ) The test was repeated in triplicate to validate this information. Solutions were also tested for percent Phosphorous at 0 and 4 MTOs. The result showed that their respective phosphorous concentrations were 10.8% and 8.5% respectively. (Fig. 4 ) Intrinsic Stress was also measured at 0 and 4 MTOs to determine the effect the higher levels of Bismuth would have on the bath. The values were measured to be 1500 PSI compressive in both cases. Further testing was also performed to determine proper adhesion. In this case, the deposit at 0 and 4 MTOs were subjected to the Quench Test (the rapid heating then cooling of the deposit), bend test (the deposit was bent to 90° and examined to look for poor adhesion for deposit to substrate), and the Scribe test (In which the deposit's surface is marred and then examined for cracks due to stress). The proposed chemistry passed all the tests. When deposit is allowed 24 hrs to set, the color passes the Eraser test (>10 swipes of an eraser across the surface and examined for abrasion). Moreover, compared to black, electroless nickel coatings prepared using commercially available black electroless plating processes, a black electroless nickel coating prepared by the process described herein when subjected 116 hours of neutral salt spray exposure maintains a higher level of black (Fig. 5 ). - The duplex coated substrate with the sulfur-free electroless nickel top coating prepared by process described above (ebENi process) was further studied by subjecting the duplex coating to a copper immersion process for bare steel surfaces. The duplex coated steel substrate described above was immersed in an electroless copper bath having the following formulation.
Electroless copper plating bath 10 g/L Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate 5 mL/L Sulfuric Acid - A summary of electroless copper plating process is shown below:
- 1. Panel was plated to a thickness of 0.4 mils in EN High Phosphorous bath
- 2. Rinse: 1 min
- 3. Panel was plated in proposed Sulfur-free EN Bath to a thickness of 0.2 mils
- 4. Rinse: 30 secs
- 5. 50% HCl: 20 secs
- 6. Rinse: 30 secs
- 7.
Electroless CuSO4 solution 2 mins - 8. Rinse 30 secs
- 9. Dried
- An example of the deposit so formed is illustrated in
Fig. 6 . Testing showed than an intermediate step is need to reactivate the surface before exposure to the electroless copper plating bath. - In order to fully assess the deposit, the immersion properties needed to be compared against the traditional EN processes.
- Four EN baths were plated then exposed to a cycle in an attempt to facilitate copper immersion over the EN deposit:
- 60 mL/L 6% LNS
150 mL/L Enova EF-163B
Temperature: 190°F
pH: 4.9 - 60 mL/L 6% LNS
150 mL/L Enova MS-9
Temperature: 190°F
pH :4.9 - 150 mL/L Enova EF-949B.
Temperature: 190°F
pH :4.8 - 60 mL/L Enova 949
150 mL/L proposed Sulfur-free EN Bath
Temperature: 190°F
pH :4.9 - Cycle for Low, Mid, and High Phos system:
- 1. Panel was plated to a thickness of 0.4 mils
- 2. Rinse: 30 secs
- 3. 50% HCl: 20 secs
- 4. Rinse: 30 secs
- 5. CuSO4 solution: 2 mins
- 6. Rinse: 30 secs
- 7. Dried
-
- 1. Panel was plated to a thickness of 0.4 mils in Enova 949
- 2. Rinse: 1 min
- 3. Panel was plated in ebENi to a thickness of 0.2 mils
- 4. Rinse: 30 sec
- 5. 50
% HCl 20 secs - 6. Rinse: 30 secs
- 7. CusO4 solution 2 mins
- 8. Rinse: 30 secs
- 9. Dried
- As illustrated in
Fig. 6 , all three traditional processes show the copper did not fully cover the panel. The ebENi system shows complete, uniform coverage of copper over the top of the EN deposit.
Claims (11)
- A method of forming a multilayer electroless metal coating on a substrate, the method comprising:i. contacting the substrate with a first electroless nickel plating bath to form a first eletroless nickel coating on the substrate, the first electroless nickel coating having a phosphorus content of 7% to 13% by weightii. contacting the substrate coated with the first electroless coating with a second aqueous electroless nickel plating bath to form a second electroless nickel coating over the first electroless coating, the second electroless coating having a phosphorous content of 8% to 11%, the second bath including nickel, a hypophosphorous reducing agent, 40 ppm to 100 ppm zinc, at least one of a complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer, and 5 ppm to 30 ppm bismuth stabilizer, wherein the bath is free of an organic sulfur compound;iii. etching the second electroless nickel coating with an etchant agent to provide the coated substrate with a black surface or contacting the substrate coated with the first and second electroless nickel coatings with an electroless copper plating bath to provide a copper top coat.
- The method of claim 1, wherein hypophosphorous reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, ammonium hypophosphite, and combinations thereof.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the second electroless nickel plating bath includes at least one pH buffer, complexing agent, or chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, an ammonium salt, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, glycine, alanine, glycolic acid, lysine, aspartic acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and combinations thereof.
- The method of claim 3, comprising at least two of a pH buffer, complexing agent, and/or chelating agent.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the nickel is provided in the second electroless plating bath in the form of a water soluble nickel salt.
- The method of claim 5, the nickel salt being selected from the group consisting of nickel chloride, nickel bromide, nickel iodide, nickel acetate, nickel malate, and nickel hypophosphite.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the pH of the second electroless nickel plating bath is maintained at 4.5 to 5.0 and the temperature at 79°C to 93°C.
- The method of claim 1, the second electroless nickel plating bath comprising 2 g/l to 10 g/l nickel, 20 g/l to 35 g/l of the hypophosphorous reducing agent, 1 g/l to 75 g/l each of the complexing agent, chelating agent, and/or pH buffer.
- The method of claim 1, the second electroless nickel plating bath comprising lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydroxide, nickel, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
- The method of claim 1, the etchant agent comprising an iron blackening agent and an acid, preferably, the etchant agent comprising ferric sulfate and hydrochloric acid.
- The method of claim 1, contacting the substrate coated with the first and second electroless nickel coatings with an acid solution prior to contacting the substrate with the electroless copper plating bath.
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US201261672584P | 2012-07-17 | 2012-07-17 | |
PCT/US2013/050932 WO2014015063A2 (en) | 2012-07-17 | 2013-07-17 | Electroless nickel coatings and compositions and methods for forming the coatings |
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EP (1) | EP2875168B1 (en) |
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US9520645B2 (en) * | 2013-09-09 | 2016-12-13 | Apple Inc. | Electronic device with electromagnetic shielding structures |
US9708693B2 (en) | 2014-06-03 | 2017-07-18 | Macdermid Acumen, Inc. | High phosphorus electroless nickel |
US9768063B1 (en) | 2016-06-30 | 2017-09-19 | Lam Research Corporation | Dual damascene fill |
US10577692B2 (en) * | 2017-01-05 | 2020-03-03 | International Business Machines Corporation | Pretreatment of iron-based substrates for electroless plating |
GB2560969A (en) * | 2017-03-30 | 2018-10-03 | Ajt Eng Ltd | Electroless plating |
EP3617350A1 (en) | 2018-08-31 | 2020-03-04 | Tubacex Upstream Technologies, S.A. | Method for coating a metal part destined to be subjected to high contact pressures and metal part obtained therefrom |
US11054199B2 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2021-07-06 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | Applying coatings to the interior surfaces of heat exchangers |
CN112359357B (en) * | 2020-10-28 | 2022-03-01 | 瑞声科技(南京)有限公司 | Chemical nickel plating process for steel sheet, phosphorus-nickel plated steel sheet and uniform temperature plate |
CN117191723A (en) * | 2023-08-25 | 2023-12-08 | 攀西钒钛检验检测院 | Method for extracting and quantitatively detecting effective sulfur in calcium superphosphate |
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GB1310921A (en) * | 1970-04-13 | 1973-03-21 | Gen Am Transport | Electroless alloy coatings and processes |
US3914126A (en) * | 1973-02-12 | 1975-10-21 | Xerox Corp | Nickel oxide interlayers for photoconductive elements |
CA1185404A (en) * | 1981-07-27 | 1985-04-16 | Glenn O. Mallory | Electroless plating with reduced tensile stress |
US4483711A (en) * | 1983-06-17 | 1984-11-20 | Omi International Corporation | Aqueous electroless nickel plating bath and process |
US4511614A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1985-04-16 | Ball Corporation | Substrate having high absorptance and emittance black electroless nickel coating and a process for producing the same |
US4984855A (en) * | 1987-11-10 | 1991-01-15 | Anritsu Corporation | Ultra-black film and method of manufacturing the same |
JP2901523B2 (en) * | 1995-08-09 | 1999-06-07 | 日本カニゼン株式会社 | Electroless black plating bath composition and film formation method |
JP3696429B2 (en) * | 1999-02-22 | 2005-09-21 | 日本化学工業株式会社 | Conductive electroless plating powder, method for producing the same, and conductive material comprising the plating powder |
JP2003031028A (en) * | 2001-07-17 | 2003-01-31 | Shin Etsu Chem Co Ltd | Conductive composition |
DE10246453A1 (en) * | 2002-10-04 | 2004-04-15 | Enthone Inc., West Haven | Electrolyte used in process for high speed electroless plating with nickel film having residual compressive stress is based on nickel acetate and also contains reducing agent, chelant, accelerator and stabilizer |
JP4203744B2 (en) * | 2003-12-02 | 2009-01-07 | 上村工業株式会社 | Electroless nickel-phosphorous plating bath and method for forming black nickel coating using the same |
JP2005290400A (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-20 | Ebara Udylite Kk | Electroless nickel plating bath and electroless nickel alloy plating bath |
JP4740724B2 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2011-08-03 | コーア株式会社 | Method for forming resistor and method for forming metal film fixed resistor |
JP4709731B2 (en) * | 2006-11-17 | 2011-06-22 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Corrosion-resistant plating layer forming method and rotating machine |
KR101261454B1 (en) * | 2010-12-14 | 2013-05-10 | 성열섭 | Phosphorus-free electroless nickel plating solution and nickle-alloy plating solution and electroless plating method using the same |
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