Method for bronze galvanic coating

Abstract

A method for electrodeposition of bronzes, with which the substrate to be coated is plated in an acid electrolyte that contains at least tin and copper ions, an alkylsulfonic acid and a wetting agent, and the preparation of such an electrolyte.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . A method for electrolytic deposition of bronze onto a substrate, the method comprising: 
 immersing a substrate in an aqueous acidic electrolyte containing:    a) tin ions;    b) copper ions;    c) an alkylsulfonic acid; and    d) an aromatic, nonionic wetting agent.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid is present in the electrolyte at a concentration of from 140 to 382 g/L of electrolyte.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid in a concentration of at least about 290 g/L.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the electrolyte further comprises an oxidation inhibitor.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the electrolyte further comprises a dihydroxybenzene compound as an oxidation inhibitor.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the bronze deposited onto the substrate comprises at least about 60% by weight Cu.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the aromatic, nonionic wetting agent is present in the electrolyte at a concentration of from about 2 to about 40 g/L.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein tin methanesulfonate is present in the electrolyte in an amount of from about 5 to about 195 g/L of electrolyte, thereby providing the tin ions at a concentration of from about 2 to about 75 g/L of electrolyte.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 30  wherein copper methanesulfonate is present in the electrolyte in an amount of from about 8 to about 280 g/L of electrolyte, thereby providing the copper ions at a concentration of from about 2 to about 70 g/L of electrolyte.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the electrolyte has a pH of less than about 1.  
   
   
       40 . An aqueous acidic electrolyte containing: 
 a) tin ions;    b) copper ions;    c) an alkylsulfonic acid; and    d) an aromatic, nonionic wetting agent.    
   
   
       41 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid is present at a concentration of from about 140 to about 382 g/L of electrolyte.  
   
   
       42 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid.  
   
   
       43 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid in a concentration of at least about 290 g/L.  
   
   
       44 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  further comprising an oxidation inhibitor.  
   
   
       45 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  further comprising a dihydroxybenzene compound as an oxidation inhibitor.  
   
   
       46 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  wherein the aromatic, nonionic wetting agent is present in the electrolyte at a concentration of from about 2 to about 40 g/L of electrolyte.  
   
   
       47 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  wherein the tin ions are present at a concentration of from about 2 to about 75 g/L of electrolyte, and the copper ions are present at a concentration of from about 2 to about 70 g/L of electrolyte.  
   
   
       48 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  further comprising a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of an anionic wetting agent, an aliphatic, nonionic wetting agent, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       49 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  further comprising a gluconate.  
   
   
       50 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  further comprising hydroquinone.  
   
   
       51 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  further comprising a brightener selected from the group consisting of aromatic carbonyl compounds, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       52 . The electrolyte of  claim 40  having a pH of less than 1.  
   
   
       53 . An aqueous acidic electrolyte containing: 
 a) divalent tin ions at a concentration of from about 2 to about 75 g/L of electrolyte;    b) divalent copper ions at a concentration of from about 2 to about 70 g/L of electrolyte;    c) an aromatic, nonionic wetting agent at a concentration of from about 2 to about 40 g/L of electrolyte;    d) a stabilizer, complexing agent, or mixture thereof at a concentration of less than about 50 g/L of electrolyte;    e) a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of an anionic wetting agent, a nonionic, aliphatic wetting agent, and mixtures thereof at a concentration of less than about 10 g/L of electrolyte;    f) an oxidation inhibitor at a concentration of less than about 5 g/L of electrolyte;    g) a brightener at a concentration of less than about 5 g/L of electrolyte; and    h) an alkylsulfonic acid at a concentration of at least about 140 g/L of electrolyte.    
   
   
       54 . The electrolyte of  claim 53  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid.  
   
   
       55 . The electrolyte of  claim 53  wherein the alkylsulfonic acid comprises methanesulfonic acid in a concentration of at least about 290 g/L.