Abstract: A catalytic adsorbate suspended in an aqueous solution comprising reduced catalytic metal on an organic suspending agent where the reduced catalytic metal has a maximum dimension not exceeding 500 angstroms and the organic suspending agent is one capable of complexing with ions of the catalytic metal. The catalytic adsorbate is useful for the electroless metal deposition of substrates that are non-catalytic to electroless metal deposition.

Abstract: A catalytic adsorbate suspended in an aqueous solution comprising reduced catalytic metal on an organic suspending agent where the reduced catalytic metal has a maximum dimension not exceeding 500 angstroms. The catalytic adsorbate is useful for the electroless metal deposition of substrates that are non-catalytic to electroless metal deposition.

Abstract: A controller for measuring the concentration of consumable ingredients in a plating solution characterized by the use of a plating poison introduced into the analysate stream to prevent autocatalytic decomposition and deposition of copper onto the walls and sensors of the controller.

Abstract: A photoresist composition comprising a sensitizer in a binder that is a naphthol polymer alone or mixed with another compatible resin such as a novolak resin or a polyvinyl phenol. The use of the naphthol resin as a portion of the binder increases the heat distortion temperature of the photoresist composition.

Abstract: This invention is for an immersion tin plating composition capable of depositing tin over metallic surfaces displaceable by tin and to processes using the same. The composition is characterized by an inhibitor that improves the plating characteristics of the solution and permits an increased ratio of thiourea to tin at a relatively high tin concentration without formation of "black tin". The tin plating compositions of this invention are capable of providing an increased yield of good quality tin compared to prior art tin plating compositions.

Abstract: A structure having a catalytic surface plated with an autocatalytic electroless alloy of copper, a metal selected from nickel, cobalt, mixtures thereof and phosphorous.

Abstract: This invention relates to resin blends of naphthol resins and novolak resins. Naphthol resins are acid catalyzed condensation products of an aromatic alcohol with an aldehyde where the aromatic alcohol is a naphthol or a mixture of a naphthol and a phenol. The blends of the invention preferably contain a total of from 5 to 35 mole percent repeating units derived from naphthol. The blends are useful as molding compounds or as film forming materials.

Abstract: An etchant, especially for copper, comprising sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide and characterized by the inclusion of a small amount of tungsten in an amount sufficient to increase the surface area of the etched metal.

Abstract: Novel resins are disclosed that are the reaction products of an aldehyde and an aromatic alcohol mixture of naphthol, preferably 1-naphthol, and a phenol. The molar ratio of the naphthol to the phenol in the reaction mixture can vary from about 20 to 1 to 1 to 20. The resins are formed by condensing the aldehyde with the aromatic alcohol mixture in the presence of an acid catalyst where the molar ratio of the aromatic alcohol to aldehyde is less than 1. The resins of the invention are characterized by melt temperature higher than the melt temperatures of conventional novolak resins.

Abstract: This invention relates to monitoring the concentration of a component dissolved in solution where the component imparts a perceptible color to the solution and varies in concentration with use of the solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to monitoring the concentration of a component dissolved in solution where the component imparts a perceptible color to the solution and varies in concentration with use of the solution.The invention is based upon use of a colorant of a fixed optical density that absorbs light in a different region of the visible spectrum than the monitored component. As the monitored component varies in concentration with use of the solution, the optical density of that component in solution varies as a function of its concentration and consequently, the amount of light, i.e., the intensity of light, passing through the solution will also vary as a function of concentration. Since the optical density of the colorant remains fixed during use, the optical density of the monitored component changes relative to the optical density of the colorant during use of the solution.

Abstract: An electroless nickel plating solution is characterized by the addition of a small but effective amount of a source of gallium for improved stability and deposit properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to electroless metal deposition and more specifically, to a process where a plating solution is brought to equilibrium and thereafter operated with the concentration of plating reactants and by-products maintained substantially constant. The plating solution treated in accordance with the invention is one having evaporative losses of at least one percent per plating cycle. Following the process, a plating solution can be operated indefinitely and yields a metal plate of uniform quality and predictable properties at any time during use of the solution. The invention avoids the known problems of by-product build-up and variable concentration of reactants typically associated with the use of such solutions.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an etchant and to a process for its use. The etchant comprises sulfuric acid activated with hydrogen peroxide or the synergistic combination of hydrogen peroxide and molybdenum. The etchant is characterized by a source of phosphate ions as an inhibitor against attack on tin, especially immersion tin, as well as several other metals such as nickel and alloys of nickel such as gold alloys. The etchant is especially useful for etching copper and its alloys in the presence of a tin etch resist, and therefore, provides a new procedure for the fabrication of printed circuit boards using immersion tin as an etch resist.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an etchant and to a process for its use. The etchant comprises a synergistic combination of hydrogen peroxide and molybdenum as oxidants in acidic solution. The combination of oxidants provides for sustained etching at an exalted rate. The etchant is useful for etching metals, especially copper and its alloys, and is particularly useful in the manufacture of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: An electroless copper plating solution is characterized by the addition of a small but effective amount of a source of gallium ions for improved stability alone or in combination with a secondary stabilizer.

Abstract: This invention relates to dry colloidal catalyst compositions of catalytic metals and to methods for formation of said dry compositions. The dry catalysts, upon dispersion in an aqueous acid solution of pH below 1, are used to render surfaces receptive to the deposition of an electroless metal. The liquid catalyst compositions, from which the dry compositions are formed, are those acidic compositions of U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,920.

Abstract: This invention relates to dry catalyst compositions of catalytic metals and to methods for formation of said dry compositions. The dry catalysts, upon dispersion in an aqueous acid solution, are used to render surfaces receptive to the deposition of an electroless metal. The liquid catalyst compositions from which the dry compositions are formed, are those catalyst formulations of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,874,882 and/or 3,904,792.

Abstract: This invention relates to dry colloidal catalyst compositions of catalytic metals and to methods for formation of said dry compositions. The dry catalysts, upon dispersion in an aqueous acid solution of pH below 1, are used to render surfaces receptive to the deposition of an electroless metal. The liquid catalyst compositions, from which the dry compositions are formed, are those acidic compositions of U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,920.

Abstract: An electroless metal plating solution is characterized by an elemental sulfur stabilizer, either in colloidal or soluble, non-ionic form. Elemental sulfur as a stabilizer is an improvement over prior art stabilizers as it can be used in substantially larger concentration than prior art divalent sulfur stabilizers which are catalytic poisons.