Abstract: An aqueous acidic electrolyte of the chloride, sulfate and mixed chloride-sulfate types suitable for electrodepositing a zinc-nickel alloy on a conductive substrate comprising an aqueous solution containing zinc ions and nickel ions, and an additive agent of a class selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic sulfonic acids, (b) aromatic sulfonamides, sulfonimides and mixed carboxamides/sulfonamides, (c) acetylene alcohols as well as the bath soluble and compatible salts and mixtures thereof. The invention further encompasses the process for electrodepositing a zinc-nickel alloy employing the aforementioned electrolyte.

Abstract: A process for pretreating a substantially non-conductive substrate such as a plateable plastic or plastic article having an electroless metal deposit on the surface thereof which comprises the steps of conditioning the surface of the substrate to effect an increase in the conductivity thereof with a dilute aqueous acidic solution containing controlled effective amounts of copper, acid and a polyether compound followed by an electrolytic acid copper strike employing a more concentrated aqueous electrolyte containing copper, acid and a polyether compound. The conditioning and electrolytic copper strike steps can be performed without necessitating any intervening rinse steps to provide a conductive basis for subsequently depositing adherent and uniform electroplates such as decorative acid copper or the like.

Abstract: A composition and method for electrodepositing ductile, bright, level copper deposits from an aqueous acidic copper plating bath having dissolved therein a brightening amount of a compound comprising a substituted phthalocyanine radical. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the composition and method further includes in the copper plating bath secondary brightening agents including aliphatic polysulfides and/or organic sulfides and/or polyethers, as well as other known additives for acid copper plating baths.