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Tin electrolyte

a technology of electrolyte and tin, which is applied in the field of electrolyte compositions and methods for depositing tin, can solve the problems of affecting the operation of the pump, and a large quantity of solution lost to the waste stream,

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-01-23
SHIPLEY CO LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method for high speed electroplating of tin or tin-alloys including the steps of: a) utilizing high speed electroplating equipment comprising an electroplating cell; an overflow reservoir adjacent the cell; means for returning solution from the reservoir to the electroplating cell; means for directing a substrate to be plated from an entry point at one end of the cell to an exit at a second end of the cel

Problems solved by technology

Due to the vigorous solution movement and solution mixing with air in such high speed plating processes, there is a strong tendency to produce a foam which is detrimental to the electroplating process.
Under extreme conditions, this foam can build up in the reservoir tank with resultant overflow onto the floor, thereby losing a large quantity of solution to the waste stream.
Foam can also interfere with the operation of the pump that is being used to generate agitation.
During use, a high speed tinplate line may slow down, such as when a new metal coil is welded to the end of the metal strip that is being plated.
However, current tin and tin-alloy high speed electroplating baths, including those discussed above, fail to produce a consistent appearance of tin or tin-alloy over a sufficiently wide current density range to allow for such slow down periods.

Method used

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  • Tin electrolyte

Examples

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Effect test

example 1

[0048]An electrolyte composition was prepared containing 15 g / L tin from tin methane sulfonate, 40 g / L free methane sulfonic acid, 1 g / L sulfuric acid, 0.5 g / L of an EO / PO copolymer having an average molecular weight of 2200, 0.5 g / L polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6000, and 0.25 g / L of a reducing agent. An electrolyte bath was prepared by combining the electrolyte composition with water to provide the desired volume.

[0049]A steel panel, 6″×2.5″ (15.24 cm×6.35 cm), was wrapped around a conductive mandrel and rotated at a speed of 1500 rpm in the electrolyte at a temperature of 40° C. The panel was then electroplated using a current density of 300 ASF to deposit a tin coating approximately 50 microinches thick. The steel panel was subsequently rinsed, dried and the deposit was reflowed to produce a brilliant, reflective tin coating.

example 2

[0050]An electrolyte composition was prepared containing 20 g / L tin from tin methane sulfonate, 30 g / L free methane sulfonic acid, 1 g / L sulfuric acid, 1.5 g / L of an EO / PO copolymer having an average molecular weight of 2200, 0.5 g / L of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 14,000, and 1.0 g / L of a reducing agent. An electrolyte bath was prepared by combining the electrolyte composition with water to provide the desired volume and operated at a temperature of 130° F.

[0051]The electrolyte composition was placed in a Hull cell and a steel panel was electroplated using 3 amperes. The resultant panel had a smooth, uniform, matte tin deposit from the low current density edge to approximately ¾″ (1.9 cm) from the high current density edge.

example 3

[0052]An electrolyte composition was prepared containing 50 g / L tin from tin methane sulfonate, 100 g / L free methane sulfonic acid, 1.0 g / L of an EO / PO copolymer having an average molecular weight of 2200, 1.0 g / L of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 14000, 0.5 g / L of a reducing agent, and 0.1 g / L of a grain refiner. An electrolyte bath was prepared by combining the electrolyte composition with water to provide the desired volume and operated at a temperature of 110° F.

[0053]The electrolyte composition was placed in a Hull cell and a steel panel was electroplated using 5 amperes. The resultant panel had a smooth, uniform, matte tin deposit from the low current density edge to approximately ¾″ (1.9 cm) from the high current density edge.

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Abstract

Disclosed are electrolyte compositions for depositing tin or tin-alloys at various current densities. Also disclosed are methods of plating such tin or tin-alloys on substrates, such as the high speed tin plating of steel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to the field of plating metal on a substrate. In particular, the present invention relates to electrolyte compositions and methods for depositing tin.[0002]Electroplating baths for depositing tin, lead, or their alloys have been used for many years in electroplating equipment. High speed electroplating equipment and processes are well-known in the industry and generally consist of directing the work to be plated into the electroplating cell from one end, allowing the work to proceed through the electroplating cell and exit thereafter the cell at the other end. The electroplating solution is removed or overflows the electroplating cell into a reservoir and the solution is pumped from the reservoir back into the electroplating cell to provide vigorous agitation and solution circulation. Many variations of these electroplating cells can exist, but the general features are as described.[0003]There are a number of desirabl...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C25D3/60C25D3/30C25D3/32C25D3/56C25D5/26
CPCC25D3/60C25D3/32C25D3/30
Inventor BROWN, NEIL D.FEDERMAN, GEORGE A.CHIRAFISI, ANGELO B.LAI, GREGORY
Owner SHIPLEY CO LLC