Abstract: An improved aqueous acidic electrolyte suitable for electrodepositing zinc alloys comprising a combination of zinc and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, and mixtures thereof incorporating an effective amount of an additive agent for providing improved grain-refinement and enhancing the adjustment of the codeposition of the alloying metals in the zinc alloy deposit. The additive agent comprises a bath soluble polyhydroxy compound having three or more hydroxyl groups at least one of which is substituted with a polyoxyalkylene group.The present invention further encompasses the process of employing the aforementioned electrolyte for the deposition of functional and decorative zinc alloy electrodeposits.

Abstract: An improved aqueous acidic electrolyte suitable for electrodepositing zinc alloys comprising a combination of zinc and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, and mixtures thereof incorporating an effective amount of an additive agent for providing improved grain-refinement and enhancing the codeposition of the alloying metals in the zinc alloy deposit. The additive agent comprises a bath soluble terminally substituted polyoxyalkylene compound derived from the sulfation, amination, phosphating, chlorination, bromination, phosphonation, and sulfonation as well as combinations thereof;(a) The polymerization of alkylene oxides selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof; and(b) the alkoxylation of mono and polyhydroxy compounds selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl containing alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, as well as mixtures thereof.

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.