Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous passivation solution having a pH in the range from 5.4 to 7.2, the solution including trivalent chromium ions, and formate anions and/or oxalate anions as complexing agents for said trivalent chromium ions, in which the trivalent chromium ions with respect to all formate anions together with all oxalate anions form a molar ratio in the range from 1:15 to 1:400.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous passivation solution having a pH in the range from 5.4 to 7.2, the solution including trivalent chromium ions, and formate anions and/or oxalate anions as complexing agents for said trivalent chromium ions, in which the trivalent chromium ions with respect to all formate anions together with all oxalate anions form a molar ratio in the range from 1:15 to 1:400.

Abstract: A method for electrolytically passivating a surface of silver, silver alloy, gold, or gold alloy, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a substrate comprising the surface, (ii) providing an aqueous passivation solution comprising trivalent chromium ions, and one or more than one species of carboxylic acid residue anions, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing an electrical current between the substrate as a cathode and an anode such that a passivation layer is electrolytically deposited onto the surface, wherein the trivalent chromium ions with respect to all species of carboxylic acid residue anions form a molar ratio in the range from 1:10 to 1:400.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for electrolytically passivating a surface of silver, silver alloy, gold, or gold alloy, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a substrate comprising said surface, (ii) providing an aqueous passivation solution comprising trivalent chromium ions, and one or more than one species of carboxylic acid residue anions, (iii) contacting the substrate with said passivation solution and passing an electrical current between the substrate as a cathode and an anode such that a passivation layer is electrolytically deposited onto said surface, wherein the trivalent chromium ions with respect to all species of carboxylic acid residue anions form a molar ratio in the range from 1:10 to 1:400.

Abstract: To achieve tin deposits being largely free of pressure induced whiskers, a method of depositing a tin layer on a metal substrate is devised, wherein said method comprises: (a) providing said metal substrate; (b) depositing a nickel/phosphorous alloy underlayer on at least one surface of said metal substrate; and (c) depositing said tin layer on said nickel/phosphorous alloy underlayer by depositing said tin layer comprising using a pulse plating method.

Abstract: A water-based composition for post-treatment of metal surfaces, preferably a silver or silver alloy surface, including: an alkanethiol an anionic, cationic, non-ionic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant with a HLB value of 12 to 18, a compound of the general formula I: wherein R1 is —H, —CH3, —C2H5, —(C2H4O)p—H, —(C2H4O)p—CH3, —(C2H4O)p—CH(CH3)2, —(C2H4)p—C(CH3)3, wherein p is 1 to 20, R2 is H, or CH3 n is an integer in the range of 0 to 3, m is an integer in the range of 0 to 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and method for electrodepositing gold containing layers using the composition and the use of mercapto-triazole compounds as anti-immersion additives. The composition contains a mercapto-triazole compound which acts as an anti-immersion additive. The composition and method are suited for depositing functional or hard gold or gold alloys that can be applied in the industry as contact material of electrical connectors for high reliability applications.

Abstract: A method for electrodepositing a metal layer from an electrolytic bath is described, wherein the concentrations of at least two components of the electrolytic bath are monitored by carrying out the following steps: (a) a sample is taken from the electrolytic bath; (b) the sample is supplied to a column for solid phase extraction, which contains a solid sorbent material; (c) the column is subjected to a washing procedure with a first eluent, wherein the at least two components remain on the column, and undesired components are eluted from the column; (d) the at least two components are eluted from the column by a second eluent; (e) the concentrations of the at least two components in the eluate obtained in step (d) are determined without separating the components from each other. In this method the use of poly(divinyl benzene-co-N-vinyl pyrrolidone) for solid phase extraction is particularly advantageous.

Abstract: Described is a new a solution comprising a phosphorous compound and optionally a solderability-enhancing compound and its use in a process for increasing the solderability and corrosion resistance of a metal or metal alloy surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a layer system comprising on a substrate, the surface of which has been electropolished, (i) a Ni layer having a thickness ?3.0 ?m, (ii) a Ni—P layer having a thickness ?1.0 ?m, and (iii) a Au layer having a thickness ?1.0 ?m.

Abstract: Described is a new a solution comprising a phosphorous compound and optionally a solderability-enhancing compound and its use in a process for increasing the solderability and corrosion resistance of a metal or metal alloy surface.

Abstract: To form high performance bonding connections suitable for producing micro-structured components made of a plurality of individual layers, bonding by the steps; providing at least two work pieces; forming a metal bonding layer on at least one side of at least one of said at least two work pieces by chemical or electrolytic metal plating method; the metal bonding layer being a nickel/phosphorous alloy having a prescribed phosphorous content and prescribed thickness; forming a bonding arrangement comprising said work pieces so that there is at least one metal bonding layer between said at least two respective work pieces; heating at a prescribed heating rate to a temperature above the melting temperature of the bonding layer; bonding the two work pieces by applying contact pressure within a prescribed range; and cooling at a prescribed rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous post-treatment compositions and an immersion and/or electrolytical process using said compositions for corrosion protection of metal and/or metal alloy surfaces. The aqueous post-treatment compositions comprise at least one polysiloxane betaine compound and at least one phosphorus containing compound.

Abstract: For providing a particularly efficient micro-structured cooler intended more specifically for cooling electronic components, it is proposed to proceed in the following manner to build this cooler: providing a stack of at least two metal foils (1) comprising channels (2) for coolant and one base plate (5) adapted to be brought into thermal contact with the electronic component (4) through a thermal contact surface (6), said metal foils (1) and said base plate (5) being joined together so as to form a single piece of material, said channels (2) having a width b ranging from 100 to 350 ?m, a depth t ranging from 30 to 150 ?m, a mean spacing s ranging from 30 to 300 ?m, residual foil thickness r remaining after formation of the channels (2) in the metal foils (1) ranging from 30 to 300 ?m and said base plate (5) having a thickness g ranging from 100 to 1,000 ?m.

Abstract: For manufacturing micro-structured reactors with passageways loaded with catalyst using the pre-coat method, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: a) producing reactor layers having bonding areas as well as passageway areas in which the passageways are formed, b) applying at least one bonding layer onto the reactor layers in the bonding areas, c) loading the reactor layers in the passageway areas with the catalyst and d) bonding the reactor layers, the bonding layer being applied and masked before the reactor layers are loaded with the catalyst. As a result, it is ensured that the efficiency of the catalyst will not be affected during manufacturing. The reactor may be used as a methane and methanol reformer in particular.

Abstract: The invention relates to a layer system comprising on a substrate, the surface of which has been electropolished, (i) a Ni layer having a thickness ?3.0 ?m, (ii) a Ni—P layer having a thickness ?1.0 ?m, (iii) a Au layer having a thickness ?1.0 ?m.

Abstract: A method for electrodepositing a metal layer from an electrolytic bath is described, wherein the concentrations of at least two components of the electrolytic bath are monitored by carrying out the following steps: (a) a sample is taken from the electrolytic bath; (b) the sample is supplied to a column for solid phase extraction, which contains a solid sorbent material; (c) the column is subjected to a washing procedure with a first eluent, wherein the at least two components remain on the column, and undesired components are eluted from the column; (d) the at least two components are eluted from the column by a second eluent; (e) the concentrations of the at least two components in the eluate obtained in step (d) are determined without separating the components from each other. In this method the use of poly(divinyl benzene-co-N-vinyl pyrrolidone) for solid phase extraction is particularly advantageous.

Abstract: For manufacturing micro-structured reactors with passageways loaded with catalyst using the pre-coat method, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: a) producing reactor layers having bonding areas as well as passageway areas in which the passageways are formed, b) applying at least one bonding layer onto the reactor layers in the bonding areas, c) loading the reactor layers in the passageway areas with the catalyst and d) bonding the reactor layers, the bonding layer being applied and masked before the reactor layers are loaded with the catalyst. As a result, it is ensured that the efficiency of the catalyst will not be affected during manufacturing. The reactor may be used as a methane and methanol reformer in particular.

Abstract: To form high performance bonding connections suitable for producing micro-structured components made of a plurality of individual layers, bonding by the steps; providing at least two work pieces; forming a metal bonding layer on at least one side of at least one of said at least two work pieces by chemical or electrolytic metal plating method; the metal bonding layer being a nickel/phosphorous alloy having a prescribed phosphorous content and prescribed thickness; forming a bonding arrangement comprising said work pieces so that there is at least one metal bonding layer between said at least two respective work pieces; heating at a prescribed heating rate to a temperature above the melting temperature of the bonding layer; bonding the two work pieces by applying contact pressure within a prescribed range; and cooling at a prescribed rate.

Abstract: For forming very strong bond joints suited for manufacturing micro-structured components consisting of plurality of individual layers, a bonding method is proposed by which a bonding arrangement of the work pieces is formed that comprises at least one metallic bonding layer interposed therein between and by which the bonding arrangement is heated to a bonding temperature below the melting temperature of the at least one bonding layer. In accordance with the invention, the at least one bonding layer is deposited using a chemical or electrolytic method.