Electroplating solution

Abstract

A conversion coating solution comprises at least one precursor agent, at least one activator agent, and water solvent, wherein on provision to a solution suitable for the deposition of a substantially metallic coating, provides an in-situ conversion coating to the surface of the substantially metallic coating.

1 . A conversion coating solution comprises at least one precursor agent, at least one activator agent, and water solvent, wherein on provision to a solution suitable for the deposition of a substantially metallic coating, provides an in-situ conversion coating to the surface of the substantially metallic coating.  
     
     
         2 . A solution according to  claim 1 , wherein the solution further comprises at least one modifying agent.  
     
     
         3 . A solution according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the at least one precursor agent is a non-fully reducible metal ion. Preferably it is chosen from Y 3+ , Rb + , Li + , La 3+ , Ce 3+ , Ce 4+ , Pr 3+ , Nd 3+ , Sm 3+ , Eu 3+ , Gd 3+ , Td 3+ , Dy 3+ , Ho 3+ , Er 3+ , Tm 3+ , Yb 3+ , Lu 3+ .  
     
     
         4 . A solution according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one precursor agent is chosen from Y 3+ , La 3+ , Ce 3+ , Ce 4+ , Pr 3+ , Nd 3+ .  
     
     
         5 . A solution according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the at least one activator agent comprises a peroxide, peroxonium salt, a hydroperoxide, ozone analogue of peroxide, or nitrate.  
     
     
         6 . A solution according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the activator agent is peroxide.  
     
     
         7 . A solution according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the solution suitable for the deposition of a substantially metallic coating comprises at least one of the following: Zn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Ag + , Sn 2+ , Sn 3+ , Cu + , Cu 2+ , Mn 2+ , Mn 3+ , Mn 4+ , Mn 6+ .  
     
     
         8 . A solution according to  claim 7 , wherein the solution suitable for the deposition of a substantially metallic coating comprises at least one of the following: Zn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Ni 2+ , C 2+ .  
     
     
         9 . A solution according to  claim 7 , wherein the solution suitable for the electrodeposition of a substantially metallic coating is an electroplating solution.  
     
     
         10 . A solution according to  claim 7 , wherein the solution suitable for the electrodeposition of a substantially metallic coating is a proprietary electroplating solution.  
     
     
         11 . A solution according to any preceding claim further comprises a conversion coating modifying agent, comprising a non-metallic anion.  
     
     
         12 . A solution according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-metallic anion comprises one of silicate, oxalate, iodate, formate, phosphate, or carbonate.  
     
     
         13 . A solution according to any preceding claim, wherein the solvent is acid or alkaline.  
     
     
         14 . A solution according to any preceding claim, wherein the solvent is water.  
     
     
         15 . An article treated using a solution according to any previous claim.  
     
     
         16 . A process for coating an article, wherein a conversion coating solution comprises at least one precursor agent, at least one activator agent, and water solvent, wherein on provision to a solution suitable for the deposition of substantially metallic coatings, imparts a conversion coating layer to the substantially metallic coating.  
     
     
         17 . A process for coating an article wherein a conversion coating solution comprises at least one precursor agent, and water solvent, wherein use is provided to an aqueous solution suitable for the deposition of substantially metallic coatings, wherein an article is brought into contact with the solution, wherein use a substantially metallic coating is formed on the article, the at least one activator agent is provided to the solution, such that a conversion coating layer is imparted to the substantially metallic coating.  
     
     
         18 . A process for coating an article wherein a conversion coating solution comprises at least one precursor agent, and water solvent, wherein use is provided to an aqueous solution suitable for the electrodeposition of substantially metallic coatings, an article is brought into contact with the solution, electrical current is passed to the article such that a substantially metallic coating is deposited onto the article, the current is substantially reduced or halted, the at least one activator agent is provided to the solution, such that a conversion coating layer is imparted to the substantially metallic coating.  
     
     
         19 . A process for coating an article wherein a conversion coating solution comprises at least one activator agent, and water solvent, wherein use is provided to an aqueous solution suitable for the electrodeposition of substantially metallic coatings, an article is brought into contact with the solution, electrical current is passed to the article such that a substantially metallic coating is deposited onto the article, the current is substantially reduced or halted, the at least one precursor agent is provided to the solution, such that a conversion coating layer is imparted to the substantially metallic coating.  
     
     
         20 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  19 , wherein the activator agent comprises a peroxide or nitrate.  
     
     
         21 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  20 , wherein the precursor agent comprises Y 3+ , La 3+ , Ce 3+ , Ce 4+ , Pr 3+ , Nd 3+ , Sm 3+ , Eu 3+ , Gd 3+ , Tb 3+ , Dy 3+ , Ho 3+ , Er 3+ , Tm 3+ , Yb 3+ , Lu 3+ .  
     
     
         22 . A process according to  claim 21  wherein the at least one precursor agent is chosen from Y 3+ , La 3+ , Ce 3+ , Ce 4+ , Pr 3+ , Nd 3+ .  
     
     
         23 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  22 , wherein the solution suitable for the deposition of a substantially metallic coating comprises at least one of the following: Zn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Ag + , Sn 2+ , Sn 3+ , Cu + , Cu 2+ , Mn 2+ , Mn 3+ , Mn 4+ , Mn 6+ .  
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 23 , wherein the suitable for the deposition of a substantially metallic coating comprises at least one of the following: Zn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ .  
     
     
         25 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  24 , wherein the solution suitable for the electrodeposition of a substantially metallic coating is an electroplating solution.  
     
     
         26 . A process according to  claim 25 , wherein the solution suitable for the electrodeposition of a substantially metallic coating is a proprietary electroplating solution.  
     
     
         27 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  26 , wherein the solution further comprises a modifying agent.  
     
     
         28 . A process according to  claim 27 , wherein the modifying agent is a non-metallic anion comprising at least one of silicate, oxalate, iodate, formate, phosphate, or carbonate.  
     
     
         29 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  28 , wherein the solvent in acid or alkaline.  
     
     
         30 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  29 , wherein the solvent is water.  
     
     
         31 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  30 , wherein the activator is provided to the solution prior to electrodeposition.  
     
     
         32 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  30 , wherein the activator is provided to the solution during electrodeposition.  
     
     
         33 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  30 , wherein the activator is provided to the solution following electrodeposition.  
     
     
         34 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  33 , wherein the electrical current provided to reduce metal ions in the plating bath to their metallic state is direct current.  
     
     
         35 . A process according to any of the  claims 15  to  34 , wherein the electrical current provided to reduce metal ions in the plating bath to their metallic state is pulsed current.  
     
     
         36 . A process according to any  claims 15  to  35 , wherein the electrical current provided to the plating bath is direct current superimposed with alternating current.  
     
     
         37 . A process according to any  claims 15  to  36 , wherein the substrate is a metal.  
     
     
         38 . A process according to  claim 37 , wherein the substrate is steel.  
     
     
         39 . A process according to any of  claims 15  to  38 , where the substrate is a non-metal.  
     
     
         40 . A process according to  claim 39 , wherein the substrate is a plastic or carbon fibre.  
     
     
         41 . An article treated using a process according to any of  claims 15  to  40 .