Abstract: Provided is an electrosilver plating bath yielding a semiglossy to glossy appearance across a wide current density range without the use of a cyan compound, and a plating method using the electrosilver plating bath. An electrosilver plating fluid that is an aqueous solution containing (A) at least one soluble silver compound, (B) at least one benzoic acid derivative or a salt of the derivative, and (C) at least one acid and/or complexing agent, wherein the benzoic acid derivative is expressed by the following general formula (m is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; Ra is a carboxyl group; individual instances of Rb are selected independently from an aldehyde group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, or a sulfonic acid group; individual instances of Rc are independently oxygen or any substituent; and one or more oxygen or CH2 may be introduced into the bond between Ra or Rb and a benzene ring.

Abstract: To develop stable, non-cyanide silver and silver alloy plating baths. The present invention is a silver and silver alloy plating bath, comprises: (A) a soluble salt, comprising a silver salt or a mixture of a silver salt and a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of tin, bismuth, cobalt, antimony, iridium, indium, lead, copper, iron, zinc, nickel, palladium, platinum, and gold; and (B) at least one aliphatic sulfide compound comprising a functionality selected from the group consisting of an ether oxygen atom, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, and a hydroxypropylene group, with the proviso that the aliphatic sulfide compound does not comprise a basic nitrogen atom.

Abstract: To develop stable, non-cyanide silver and silver alloy plating baths. The present invention is a silver and silver alloy plating bath, comprises: (A) a soluble salt, comprising a silver salt or a mixture of a silver salt and a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of tin, bismuth, cobalt, antimony, iridium, indium, lead, copper, iron, zinc, nickel, palladium, platinum, and gold; and (B) at least one aliphatic sulfide compound comprising a functionality selected from the group consisting of an ether oxygen atom, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, and a hydroxypropylene group, with the proviso that the aliphatic sulfide compound does not comprise a basic nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A silver and silver alloy plating bath, includes (A) a soluble salt, having a silver salt or a mixture of a silver salt and a salt of a metal such as tin, bismuth, indium, lead, and the like; and (B) a particular aliphatic sulfide compound, such as thiobis(diethyleneglycol), dithiobis(triglycerol), 3,3?-thiodipropanol, thiodiglycerin, 3,6-dithiooctane-1,8-diol, and the like, which contain at least one or more of an ether oxygen atom, a 1-hydroxypropyl group, a hydroxypropylene group, or two or more of a sulfide bond in the molecule, and not containing a basic nitrogen atom.

Abstract: The aim of the present invention is to provide a method for silver plating that does not comprise the step of forming the nickel-underlayer and that can form a silver-plated layer having sufficient adherence directly on the difficult-to-plate substrates with the use of a halide-free plating bath under a good working environment. The present invention provides a silver plating method onto a substrate on which an oxide layer inhibiting adherence of a plated layer is prone to form, comprising at least the following steps of; (A) degreasing the substrate, (B) removing the oxide layer with a strongly acidic solution from the substrate, and (C) silver plating onto the substrate, without a step of nickel or nickel alloy strike plating in advance, utilizing a phosphines-containing acidic silver plating bath which essentially does not contain halide ion or cyanide ion.

Abstract: A pretreatment solution for providing a catalyst for electroless plating and a pretreatment method using the solution are provided. The pretreatment solution comprises a silver colloidal solution containing, as essential components, at least the following components (I), (II) and (III): (I) silver colloidal particles, (II) one or more ions selected from an ion of a metal having an electric potential which can reduce a silver ion to metal silver in the solution and an ion oxidized at the time of reduction of the silver ion, and (III) one or more ions selected from a hydroxycarboxylate ion, a condensed phosphate ion and an amine carboxylate ion, the silver colloidal particles (I) being produced by the ion of the metal (II) having an electric potential which can reduce a silver ion to metal silver. When an object to be plated is pretreated by use of the pretreatment solution, provision of an effective catalyst for electroless plating is achieved.

Abstract: A method for forming a circuit pattern includes at least a step (a) of subjecting a non-conductor to electroless copper plating to form a copper film and a step (b) of etching the copper film so as to form a circuit pattern. As a catalyst for the electroless copper plating, a silver colloidal solution is used containing as essential components at least the following: (I) silver colloidal particles; (II) one or more of ions of metal having an electric potential which can reduce silver ions to metal silver in the solution and/or ions which result from oxidation of the ion at the time of reduction of the silver ions; and (III) one or more of hydroxycarboxylate, condensed phosphate and/or amine carboxylate ions. The silver colloidal particles (I) are produced by the ion (II) of the metal having an electric potential which can reduce silver ions to metal silver. The circuit pattern may be formed on a printed wiring board.

Abstract: To provide a plating method, which enables wide industrial use of the redox system electroless plating method having excellent characteristics, and a plating bath precursor which is preferable for the plating method. The plating method comprises a process oxidizing first metal ions of a redox system of a plating bath from a lower oxidation state to a high oxidation state, and second metal ions of said redox system are reduced and deposited onto the surface of an object to be plated, wherein a process is provided in which by supplying the electrical current to the plating bath, the first metal ions are reduced from said lower oxidation state to thereby activate the plating bath. The plating bath precursor is formed stabilizing the plating bath so that reduction and deposition of the second metal ions substantially do not occur in order to improve its storing performance.

Abstract: A pretreatment solution for providing a catalyst for electroless plating and a pretreatment method using the solution are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tin-copper alloy plating bath, tin-copper-bismuth alloy plating bath or tin-copper-silver alloy plating bath containing a soluble metal compound and a specific sulfur-containing compound. The plating bath of the present invention is an alloy plating bath containing tin and copper, the bath being capable of preventing deposition of copper on a tin anode by substitution, having low dependence of plated coating composition on current density, high bath stability and resistance to turbidness.

Abstract: There are provided a tin or tin-base alloy plating bath having significantly improved solderability, a tin salt solution and an acid or complexing agent solution for preparing or controlling and making up the plating bath, as well as electrical and electric components prepared by the use of the plating bath.

Abstract: To provide a plating method, which enables wide industrial use of the redox system electroless plating method having excellent characteristics, and a plating bath precursor which is preferable for the plating method. The plating method comprises a process oxidizing first metal ions of a redox system of a plating bath from a lower oxidation state to a high oxidation state, and second metal ions of said redox system are reduced and deposited onto the surface of an object to be plated, wherein a process is provided in which by supplying the electrical current to the plating bath, the first metal ions are reduced from said lower oxidation state to thereby activate the plating bath. The plating bath precursor is formed stabilizing the plating bath so that reduction and deposition of the second metal ions substantially do not occur in order to improve its storing performance.

Abstract: To provide a plating method, which enables wide industrial use of the redox system electroless plating method having excellent characteristics, and a plating bath precursor which is preferable for the plating method. The plating method comprises a process oxidizing first metal ions of a redox system of a plating bath from a lower oxidation state to a high oxidation state, and second metal ions of said redox system are reduced and deposited onto the surface of an object to be plated, wherein a process is provided in which by supplying the electrical current to the plating bath, the first metal ions are reduced from said lower oxidation state to thereby activate the plating bath. The plating bath precursor is formed stabilizing the plating bath so that reduction and deposition of the second metal ions substantially do not occur in order to improve its storing performance.

Abstract: An aqueous solution for obtaining a noble metal by chemical reduction containing at least one water-soluble compound or complex of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, silver, and palladium as a source of the metal to be deposited, and at least one mercapto compound or sulfide compound or a salt thereof as a reducing agent. The reducing agent is typically mercaptoacetic acid, 2-mercaptopropionic acid, 2-aminoethanethiol, 2-mercaptoethanol, glucose cysteine, 1-thioglycerol, sodium mercaptopropanesulfonate, N-acetylmethionine, thiosalicylic acid, 2-thiazoline-2-thiol, 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2-benzothiazolethiol, or 2-benzimidazolethiol. They may be used singly or in combination.

Abstract: An aqueous solution for the reductive deposition of metals comprising, besides water, (A) a phosphine of the general formula (1)  in which R1, R2, and R3 denote lower alkyl groups, at least one of which being hydroxy-or amino-substituted lower alkyl group, and (B) a soluble compound of a metal or a compound of a metal solubilized through the formation of a soluble complex by said phosphine.

Abstract: An electroplating solution (A), comprises an aqueous solution consisting essentially of lead phenolsulfonate: 1 to 250 g/liter in terms of Pb content; tin phenolsulfonate: 0.1 to 250 g/liter in terms of Sn content; phenolsulfonic acid: 20 to 300 g/liter; polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkylamine: 1 to 50 g/liter; a 1-naphthaldehyde derivative: 0.001 to 1 g/liter; and an aldol sulfanilic acid derivative: 0.1 to 30 g/liter; or an aqueous solution (B) consisting essentially of lead methanesulfonate: 1 to 250 g/liter in terms of Pb content; tin methanesulfonate: 0.1 to 250 g/liter in terms of Sn content; methanesulfonic acid: 20 to 300 g/liter; polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkylamine: 1 to 50 g/liter; and an aldol sulfanilic acid derivative: 0.1 to 30 g/liter.

Abstract: An electrolytic process for producing lead and tin sulfonates which comprises applying a DC voltage to an anode and a plurality of cathodes in an electrolytic cell and thereby dissolving lead or tin in an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic cell is partitioned by cation- and anion-exchange membranes into anode and cathode chambers. The electrolytic solution is a solution of an organic sulfonic acid, and the anode is lead or tin. The process reduces contents of radioisotopes such as uranium and thorium to a level of less than 50 ppb, and therefore the coatings formed by solder plating using the lead and tin salts in accordance with the invention show radioactive .alpha. particle counts of less than 0.1 CPH/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A tin, lead, or tin-lead alloy plating bath comprising, as essential ingredients, an alkali metal salt, and a soluble divalent tin compound or/and a lead compound, all of an aliphatic or aromatic sulfocarboxylic acid of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.1-4 hydrocarbon radical, M.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or alkali metal atom, M.sub.2 is an alkali metal atom, and X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are each a hydrogen atom, OH, COON, or SO.sub.3 N (where N represents a hydrogen atom or alkali metal atom).

Abstract: A tin-lead alloy plating bath based on a principal plating bath comprising an alkanesulfonic or alkanolsulfonic acid and both bivalent tin and lead salts thereof is characterized by the addition of a guanamine compound having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, represent each a hydrogen atom, C.sub.1-18 straight- or branched-chain alkyl radical, C.sub.1-18 straight- or branched-chain alkoxy-lower alkyl radical, or a C.sub.3-7 cycloalkyl radical, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may combine to form a carbon cycle or hetero cycle, and A represents a lower alkylene radical.

Abstract: A tin, lead or tin-lead alloy plating bath, which comprises(A) a principal plating bath containing an alkanesulfonic or alkanolsulfonic acid, and either a divalent tin salt or a divalent lead salt thereof or both;(B) at least one of surfactants comprising(a) a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of quarternary ammonium salts, alkyl pyridinium salts, alkyl imidazolinium salts and higher alkyl amine salts,(b) an amphoteric surfactant selected from betaines, or(c) a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of condensation products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with a styrenated phenol, a higher alcohol, an alkylphenol, an alkylnaphthol, a fatty acid amide, a sorbitan or a phosphate; and(C) at least one of levelling agents selected from the group consisting of alkylidene sulfamic acids, quinolinol derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, dialkylidene o-phenylene diamines, benzaldehyde derivatives, triazine derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives and nitriles.