Abstract: Galvanic nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a semi-bright nickel or semi-bright nickel alloy coating in which the electroplating bath includes at least one compound having the general formula (1) and/or a salt thereof wherein R1?C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising a SO3? group, a carboxylic group, or an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group; R2?NR3R4 moiety, or OR5 moiety, or cyclic NR6 moiety, wherein R3, R4, R5=hydrogen, or C1-C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, or C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group, wherein R3, R4 and R5 are identical or different; R6?C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety, or C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety wherein at least one carbon atom is substituted by a heteroatom; n=1-3; and wherein the electroplating bath further comprises at least one acetylenic compound and chloral hydrate.

Abstract: An electroless copper plating bath for depositing a copper or copper alloy layer on a surface of a substrate, including copper ions; a reducing agent; a complexing agent for copper ions; wherein the bath further includes at least one compound according to formula (1): in which Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; carboxylic acid; carboxylate; sulfonic acid; sulfonate; carboxamide; nitrile; nitro; trialkylammonium; 2-carboxyvinyl; 2-vinylcarboxylate; 2-(trialkylammonium)vinyl; hydroxamic acid; and oxime; provided at least one of Z1 and Z2 is not hydrogen; and in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are: i. R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrogen; or ii. R1 with R2 form together an aromatic ring, R3 and R4 are hydrogen; or iii. R3 with R4 form together an aromatic ring, R1 and R2 are hydrogen; or iv. both R1 with R2 and R3 with R4 form together an aromatic ring, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tin plating bath comprising tin ions; at least one complexing agent selected from the group consisting of pyrophosphate ions, linear polyphosphate ions and cyclic polyphosphate ions and a nitrogen and sulfur containing stabilizing additive and titanium (III) ions as a reducing agent suitable to reduce tin ions to metallic tin. The present invention further discloses a method of depositing tin or a tin alloy onto a surface of a substrate. The tin plating bath is particularly suitable to be used in the electronics and semiconductor industry.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a chrome-plated part having a corrosion resistance in normal and specific circumstances and not requiring additional treatments after chrome plating, and to provide a manufacturing method of such a chrome-plated part. The chrome-plated part 1 includes: a substrate 2; a bright nickel plating layer 5b formed over the substrate 2; a noble potential nickel plating layer 5a formed on the bright nickel plating layer 5b. An electric potential difference between the bright nickel plating layer 5b and the noble potential nickel plating layer 5a is within a range from 40 mV to 150 mV. The chrome-plated part 1 further includes: a trivalent chrome plating layer 6 formed on the noble potential nickel plating layer 5a and having at least any one of a microporous structure and a microcrack structure.

Abstract: A method for post-treatment of a chromium finish surface to improve corrosion resistance comprising a) providing a substrate having a chromium finish surface, and at least one intermediate layer between the chromium finish surface and the substrate, selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, wherein the chromium finish surface is a surface of a trivalent chromium plated layer, obtained by electroplating the substrate, having the at least one intermediate layer, in a plating bath, the plating bath comprising chromium (III) ions; b) contacting the chromium finish surface with an aqueous solution, comprising a permanganate, at least one compound which is selected from a phosphorus-oxygen compound, a hydroxide, a nitrate, a borate, boric acid, a silicate, or a mixture of two or more of these compounds; c) forming a transparent corrosion protection layer onto the chromium finish surface during step b.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an acidic zinc or zinc-nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a zinc or zinc-nickel alloy layer and a method for zinc or zinc-nickel alloy electroplating making use of such an electroplating bath.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic copper electroplating bath comprising: copper ions; at least one acid; halide ions; at least one sulfur containing compound selected form the group consisting of sodium 3-mercaptopropylsulfonate, bis(sodiumsulfopropyl)disulfide, 3-(N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl)-thiopropanesulfonic acid or the respective sodium salt thereof and mixtures of the aforementioned; at least one amine reaction product of diethylamine with epichlorohydrin or an amine reaction product of isobutyl amine with epichlorohydrin or mixtures of these reaction products; at least one ethylene diamine compound selected from the group having attached EO-PO-block polymers, attached EO-PO-block polymers and sulfosuccinate groups and mixtures thereof; at least one aromatic reaction product of benzylchloride with at least one polyalkylenimine and a method for electrolytically depositing of a copper coating using the electroplating bath.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a new type of transport roller providing a modified surface to provide improved transport properties for new substrates. Furthermore, it refers to horizontal transport systems beneficially utilizing such transport rollers, especially for providing retaining roller pairs. Additionally, the present invention refers to a treatment device containing such transport roller or horizontal transport system. Furthermore, it refers to a method for treating a substrate and the use of such transport roller.

Abstract: An aqueous bath for filling a vertical interconnect access or trench of a work piece with nickel or a nickel alloy, the bath comprising a source of nickel ions, and optionally a source of ions of at least one alloying metal, at least one buffering agent, at least one of a dimer of a compound of formula (I) or mixtures thereof wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, R2 may be present or not, and if present R2 is a —(CH2)n—SO3? group, wherein n is an integer in the range of 1-6, and wherein one or more of the hydrogens in the group may be replaced by a substituent, preferably hydroxide; and a method for filling a vertical interconnect access or trench of a work piece with nickel or a nickel alloy with said aqueous bath.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an acidic zinc or zinc-nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a zinc or zinc-nickel alloy layer and a method for zinc or zinc-nickel alloy electroplating making use of such an electroplating bath.

Abstract: A method for post-treatment of a chromium finish surface to improve corrosion resistance comprising a) providing a substrate having a chromium finish surface, and at least one intermediate layer between the chromium finish surface and the substrate, selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, wherein the chromium finish surface is a surface of a trivalent chromium plated layer, obtained by electroplating the substrate, having the at least one intermediate layer, in a plating bath, the plating bath comprising chromium (III) ions; b) contacting the chromium finish surface with an aqueous solution, comprising a permanganate, at least one compound which is selected from a phosphorus-oxygen compound, a hydroxide, a nitrate, a borate, boric acid, a silicate, or a mixture of two or more of these compounds; c) forming a transparent corrosion protection layer onto the chromium finish surface during step b.

Abstract: The present invention relates to imidazoyl urea polymers and their use in aqueous acidic plating baths for metal or metal alloy deposition such as electrolytic deposition of copper or alloys thereof in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, IC substrates, semiconducting and glass devices for electronic applications. The plating bath according to the present invention comprises at least one source of metal ions and an imidazoyl urea polymer. The plating bath is particularly useful for filling recessed structures and build-up of pillar bump structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acidic aqueous composition (plating bath) for electrolytic copper plating (electrolytic deposition of copper), the composition comprising (i) copper (II) ions, (ii) one or more than one compound of Formula (Ia) (iii) one, two, three or more than three further compounds, which are different from the compound of Formula (Ia), with the definitions given below, the use of the acidic aqueous composition according to the invention for electrolytic copper plating, the use of the compound of Formula (Ia) in an acidic aqueous composition for electrolytic metal plating, a method of electrolytic copper plating using the acidic aqueous composition according to the invention, and specific compounds derived from Formula (Ia) for an acidic aqueous composition for electrolytic metal plating.

Abstract: A method of forming a solderable solder deposit on a contact pad, comprising the steps of providing an organic, non-conductive substrate which exposes said contact pad under an opening of a first non-conductive resist layer, depositing a conductive layer inside and outside the opening such that an activated surface results, thereby forming an activated opening, electrolytically depositing nickel or nickel alloy into the activated opening such that nickel/nickel alloy is deposited onto the activated surface, electrolytically depositing tin or tin alloy onto the nickel/nickel alloy, with the proviso that the electrolytic deposition of later steps results in an entirely filled activated opening, wherein the entirely filled activated opening is completely filled with said nickel/nickel alloy, or in the entirely filled activated opening the total volume of nickel/nickel alloy is higher than the total volume of tin and tin alloy, based on the total volume of the entirely filled activated opening.

Abstract: Method for electroplating a metal onto a flat substrate P. Surfaces are electrically polarized for metal deposition by feeding thereto at least one first and second forward-reverse pulse current sequences. The first forward-reverse pulse current sequence includes a first forward pulse generating a first cathodic current during a first forward pulse duration tf1 and having a first forward pulse peak current if1, and a first reverse pulse generating a first anodic current during a first reverse pulse duration tr1 and having a first reverse pulse peak current ir1, the second forward-reverse pulse current sequence including a second forward pulse generating a second cathodic current during a second forward pulse duration tf2 and having a second forward pulse peak current if2, and a second reverse pulse generating a second anodic current during a second reverse pulse duration tr2, the second reverse pulse having a second reverse pulse peak current ir2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plating composition for electrolytic copper deposition, comprising copper ions, halide ions and at least one acid, at least one benzothiazole compound, at least one phenazine dye and at least one ethanediamine derivative. The present invention further concerns the use of above plating composition and a method for electrolytically depositing a copper or copper alloy layer onto at least one surface of a substrate.

Abstract: A process for depositing metal or metal alloy on a substrate including treating the substrate surface with an activation solution comprising a source of metal ions so the metal ions are adsorbed on the substrate surface, treating the obtained substrate surface with a treatment solution containing an additive selected from thiols, thioethers, disulphides and sulphur containing heterocycles, and a reducing agent suitable to reduce the metal ions adsorbed on the substrate surface selected from boron based reducing agents, hypophosphite ions, hydrazine and hydrazine derivatives, ascorbic acid, iso-ascorbic acid, sources of formaldehyde, glyoxylic acid, sources of glyoxylic acid, glycolic acid, formic acid, sugars, and salts of aforementioned acids; and subsequently treating the substrate surface with a metallizing solution comprising a source of metal ions to be deposited such that a metal or metal alloy is deposited thereon.

Abstract: Method for increasing corrosion resistance of substrate including an outermost chromium alloy layer, including (i) providing substrate comprising an outermost layer, the layer having color space defined by CIELAB with lightness L* of 79 or more, including oxygen and carbon, and including iron in amount up to 1 atom-%, (ii) providing an aqueous, acidic passivation solution, the solution including trivalent chromium ions, phosphate ions, one or more than one organic acid anion, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing electrical current between the substrate as cathode and an anode in the passivation solution wherein a passivation layer is deposited onto the outermost layer, wherein in step (i) the outermost layer is electrolytically deposited from aqueous, acidic deposition composition, the composition including trivalent chromium ions, at least one organic acid comprising an isothiureido moiety and/or salts thereof, and chloride ions in amount of 0 wt-% to 0.1 wt-%.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for electrolytically depositing a zinc-nickel alloy layer on a substrate, wherein the method comprises an interrupting of the execution of the electrolytical deposition of a zinc-nickel alloy layer on the surface of a substrate by terminating applying the current from the external current source to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s); and wherein afterwards at least one soluble zinc anode, which is remaining in the electrolysis reaction container, is electrically connected by an electrical connection element to form an electrical connection to at least one soluble nickel anode, which is remaining in the electrolysis reaction container, for at least a part of the defined period of time in which no current from the external current source is applied to each of the soluble zinc anode(s) and to each of the soluble nickel anode(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for directly depositing palladium onto a non-activated surface of a gallium nitride semiconductor, the use of an acidic palladium plating bath (as defined below) for directly depositing metallic palladium or a palladium alloy onto a non-activated surface of a doped or non-doped gallium nitride semiconductor, and a palladium or palladium alloy coated, doped or non-doped gallium nitride semiconductor.