US4699696A — Zinc-nickel alloy electrolyte and process

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

an aqueous acidic electrolyte of the chloride, sulfate or mixed chloride-sulfate type suitable for electrodepositing a zinc-nickel alloy on a substrate comprising an aqueous solution containing zinc ions and nickel ions present in an amount sufficient to electrodeposit a zinc-nickel alloy and an additive agent selected from the group consisting of: (b) aromatic sulfonamides; sulfonimides and mixed carboxamides/sulfonamides; (c) acetylene alcohols; as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts of (b) and mixtures thereof; said additive agents (b) and (c) being present in the electrolyte in an amount effective to impart ductility to the electrodeposit, and/or to provide a substantially uniform alloy composition by suppression of nickel codeposition in the lower current density areas and enhancement of nickel codeposition in the higher current density areas.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

an aqueous acidic electrolyte of the chloride, sulfate or mixed chloride-sulfate type suitable for electrodepositing a zinc-nickel alloy on a substrate comprising an aqueous solution containing zinc ions and nickel ions present in an amount sufficient to electrodeposit a zinc-nickel alloy and an additive agent selected from the group consisting of: (b) aromatic sulfonamides; sulfonimides and mixed carboxamides/sulfonamides; (c) acetylene alcohols; as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts of (b) and mixtures thereof; said additive agents (b) and (c) being present in the electrolyte in an amount effective to impart ductility to the electrodeposit, and/or to provide a substantially uniform alloy composition by suppression of nickel codeposition in the lower current density areas and enhancement of nickel codeposition in the higher current density areas.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which said zinc ions are present in an amount of about 10 g/l up to saturation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which said zinc ions are present in an amount of about 15 to about 225 g/l.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which said zinc ions are present in an amount of about 20 to about 200 g/l.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which said nickel ions are present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 120 g/l.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including a carrier brightener present in an amount effective to impart grain refinement to the electrodeposit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 of the chloride, sulfate and mixed chloride-sulfate type in which said additive agent (b) and (c) are present in an amount of at least about 0.0001 mole per liter.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 7 in which said additive agent (b) and (c) are present in an amount of about 0.001 to about 0.01 mole per liter.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 of the chloride and mixed chloride-sulfate type in which the additive agent, (b) and (c) are present in an amount of about 0.001 to about 0.1 mole per liter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 9 in which said additive agent (b) and (c) are present in an amount of at least about 0.01 mole per liter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 6 in which said carrier brightener comprises a polyoxyalkylene compound present in an amount of about 0.005 g/l up to saturation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 6 in which said carrier brightener comprises a polyoxyalkylene compound present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 200 g/l.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 6 in which said carrier brightener comprises a polyacrylamide compound as well as the N-substituted derivatives thereof present in an amount of about 0.001 up to the solubility limit in the electrolyte

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 6 in which said carrier brightener comprise a polyacrylamide compound as well as the N-substituted derivatives thereof present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 5 g/l.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including hydrogen ions to provide a pH of from about 0 up to about neutral.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including hydrogen ions to provide a pH of from about 2 to about 6.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 12 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including a buffering agent.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including a secondary brightening agent present in an amount effective to impart.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including a secondary brightening agent present in an amount of about 0.01 to about 2 g/l.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including an auxiliary brightening agent.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 20 in which said auxiliary brightening agent is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 20 g/l.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 20 in which said auxiliary brightening agent is present in an amount of about 1 to about 10 g/l.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including electrolyte soluble and compatible conductivity salts present in an amount up to about 450 g/l.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 of the chloride and mixed chloride-sulfate type further including at least about 20 g/l ammonium ions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 further including a complexing agent for the zinc ions and nickel ions.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 144 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which the additive agent (b) comprises a compound corresponding to the General Formula II; ##STR8## Wherein: X is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl which can be adjacent to the phenyl ring, C 7 -C 22 alkyl aryl, OH, halogen, CHO, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 carboxy, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyl alkyl, or C 1 -C 6 sulfoalkyl; Y is H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, OH, SO 3 M, or phenyl; Q is H, M, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 sulfo alkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxy alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy sulfo; M is H, NH 4 , Zinc, Nickel or Group IA and IIA metals; ##STR9## as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts and mixtures thereof.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 116 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which the additive (c) comprises a compound corresponding to the General Formula III; ##STR10## wherein: m is an integer from 0 to 4; n is an integer from 1 to 4 R 1 is H, a C 1 -C 6 alkyl when m is O; R 1 is --O--R 4 when m is greater than O; R 2 & R 3 is H, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or sulfo alkyl; R 4 is H or ##STR11## p is an integer from 1 to 4; R 5 is H or a C 1 -C 2 alkyl; as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts and mixtures thereof.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 105 words

The electrolyte as defined in claim 1 in which the additive agent (c) comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of: 3-methyl-1-butyne-3 ol HC.tbd.CC(CH 3 ) 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 H comprising the ethylene oxide adduct of 3-methyl-1-butyne-3 ol; Butynediol; HOCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 .tbd.OCH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OH comprising the ethylene oxide adduct of butynediol; HOCH 2 C.tbd.CCH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OH; Propargyl alcohol; HC.tbd.CCH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OH comprising the ethylene oxide adduct of propargyl alcohol; ##STR12## comprising the propylene oxide adduct of propargyl alcohol; Hexynediol; as well as mixtures thereof.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 150 words

A process for electrodepositing a zinc-nickel alloy on a conductive substrate which comprises the steps of contacting a cathodically electrified substrate with an aqueous electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution containing zinc ions and nickel ions present in an amount sufficient to electrodeposit a zinc-nickel alloy and an additive agent selected from the group consisting of: (b) aromatic sulfonamides; sulfonimides and mixed carboxamides/sulfonamides; (c) acetylene alcohols; as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts of (b) and mixtures thereof; said additive agents (b) and (c) being present in the electrolyte in an amount effective to impart ductility to the electrodeposit, and/or chloride-sulfate electrolyte in an amount effective to provide a substantially uniform alloy composition by suppression of nickel codeposition in the lower current density areas, and enhancement of nickel codeposition in the higher current density areas, and continuing the electrodeposition of the zinc-nickel alloy until the desired thickness is obtained.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 150 words

A process for electrodepositing a zinc-nickel alloy on a conductive substrate which comprises the steps of contacting a cathodically electrified substrate with an aqueous electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution containing zinc ions and nickel ions present in an amount sufficient to electrodeposit a zinc-nickel alloy and an additive agent selected from the group consisting of: (b) aromatic sulfonamides; sulfonimides and mixed carboxamides/sulfonamides; (c) acetylene alcohols; as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts of (b) and mixtures thereof; said additive agents (b) and (c) being present in the electrolyte in an amount effective to impart ductility to the electrodeposit, and/or chloride-sulfate electrolyte in an amount effective to provide a substantially uniform alloy composition by suppression of nickel codeposition in the lower current density areas, and enhancement of nickel codeposition in the higher current density areas, and continuing the electrodeposition of the zinc-nickel alloy until the desired thickness is obtained.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process as defined in claim 29 including the further step of controlling the temperature of the electrolyte within a range of about 60° F. to about 180° F.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The process as defined in claim 29 including the further step of controlling the pH of the electrolyte within a range of about 0 up to about neutral.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

The process as defined in claim 29 in which the step of electrodepositing the zinc-nickel alloy is performed at an average cathode current density of from about 1 up to about 2,000 ASF.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process as defined in claim 29 in which said electrolyte further contains a carrier brightener.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-10-12	1991-04-13	1991-10-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-10-12	1995-04-13	1995-10-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-10-12	1999-04-13	1999-10-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Zinc-nickel alloy electrolyte and process

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