Tin(II) Oxide Powder Manufacturing for Plating Solutions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tin(II) oxide powder used for replenishing tin in plating solutions has low solubility and storage stability, leading to oxidation and precipitation issues, which complicates component balance and causes sludge formation, clogging, and quality issues in electroplating processes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the preparation of tin(II) oxide powder through an aqueous acidic solution neutralization, dehydration, and treatment with an antioxidant solution, followed by vacuum drying, to enhance solubility and prevent oxidation, ensuring high solubility and storage stability in acidic plating solutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If tin(II) oxide powder with small average particle diameter and large specific surface area is used to achieve high solubility in acidic plating solution, then the solubility is improved, but the powder surface is easily oxidized from SnO to SnO2 when exposed to air, reducing storage stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility of tin(II) oxide powderVSAvoidstorage stability of tin(II) oxide powder
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material structure where tin(II) oxide powder particles are coated with a resin layer. This composite structure combines the high solubility advantage of fine tin(II) oxide particles with the oxidation resistance of the resin coating, resolving the contradiction between solubility and storage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The resin coating acts as an intermediary layer between the tin(II) oxide powder and the oxidizing environment (air). This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between oxygen and the powder surface, thereby preventing oxidation while allowing the underlying fine particles to maintain their high solubility characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If tin(II) oxide powder is stored in vacuum pack to prevent oxidation, then storage stability is improved, but handling complexity and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stability of tin(II) oxide powderVSAvoidhandling ease of tin(II) oxide powder
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The resin coating is applied in advance during manufacturing, creating a pre-protected powder that inherently resists oxidation. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for special storage conditions like vacuum packing, thereby improving handling ease while maintaining storage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The resin-coated powder is self-protecting against oxidation through its inherent coating structure. The product serves its own protection function without requiring external protective measures during storage and handling, simplifying operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If tin salt solution is added to replenish tin component in plating solution, then replenishment is achieved, but component balance becomes difficult to control due to low solubility of conventional tin(II) oxide powder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetin component replenishmentVSAvoidcomponent balance control in plating solution
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of tin(II) oxide by reducing particle diameter and increasing specific surface area through mechanical energy treatment. This parameter change dramatically increases solubility in acidic plating solutions, enabling precise control of tin component replenishment and improving component balance control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method produces tin(II) oxide powder with high solubility and oxidation-preventive properties, allowing stable replenishment of Sn2+ ions in plating solutions, preventing sludge formation and maintaining high quality in electroplating processes.

Implementation Method 1

the surface of the tin(II) oxide powder is likely oxidized from SnO to SnO2 when it is exposed to the air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation prevention: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

vacuum drying the tin(II) oxide treated by the aqueous antioxidant solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum drying: Vacuum Distillation

Implementation Method 3

neutralizing the aqueous acidic solution at a liquid temperature of 30 to 50°C and at a pH range of 6 to 8 in a nitrogen gas atmosphere by adding an aqueous alkaline solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNeutralization reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2708511B1Method for manufacturing tin(II) oxide powder for replenishing tin component of tin-alloy plating solution, and tin(II) oxide powder manufactured using said method
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORP
  • EP2708511B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

An object and a problem of the present invention is to provide tin(II) oxide powder which has extremely high solubility in an acid or an acidic plating solution, excellent in storage stability in the air and can heighten oxidation-preventive effect of Sn2+ ion in the plating solution. The method for manufacturing tin(II) oxide powder of the present invention comprises Step (11) of preparing an aqueous acidic solution containing Sn2+ ions, Step (12) of neutralizing the aqueous acidic solution by adding an aqueous alkaline solution to prepare a slurry of tin(II) hydroxide, Step (13) of dehydrating the prepared slurry to obtain a slurry of tin(II) oxide, Step (14) of separating the slurry of tin(II) oxide into a solid and a liquid to obtain tin(II) oxide, Step (15) of treating the obtained tin(II) oxide with an aqueous antioxidant solution, and Step (16) of vacuum drying the tin(II) oxide treated with the aqueous antioxidant solution. Also, the tin(II) oxide powder of the present invention is suitable for replenishing a tin component to a tin-alloy plating solution.