Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the brightness L* of an electroplated chromium layer, in particular of a dark electroplated chromium layer. The method includes an aqueous trivalent chromium electroplating bath comprising colloidal particles and/or agglomerates thereof and a step of fully or partially removing same with optionally adding colloidal particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for electrodepositing a dark chromium layer on a substrate, a respective electroplating bath for depositing such a dark chromium layer, and a respective substrate comprising said dark chromium layer. The electroplating bath comprises colloidal particles containing the chemical element aluminum. The substrate comprising said dark chromium layer is primarily suited for decorative purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a very specific electroplating bath for depositing a black chromium layer, and a respective method for electroplating such a layer. The electroplating bath comprises two specific groups of compounds defined as (D) and (E), present in a particularly defined molar ratio ranging from 0.9 to 2.65, based on (E):(D). The black chromium layer is excellently suited for decorative purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a black plated substrate comprising a base-substrate and deposited thereon a layer stack, wherein the layer stack comprises a black chromium plating layer comprising on its surface a conversion layer having a depth of 30 nm or more, characterized in that the conversion layer does not comprise metallic chromium or comprises metallic chromium only up to 2 at.-%, based on the element chromium and the total number of chromium atoms in the conversion layer.

Abstract: In a thermochemical method, a syngas comprising oxygen is combusted in a furnace, thereby producing a hot exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is subsequently discharged into the surroundings while the inner energy of the exhaust gas is at least partly used to carry out a reformation reaction. For this purpose, steam together with a hydrocarbon-containing fuel and an oxygen-containing gas are supplied to a reformer and converted into syngas in an endothermic reaction using inner energy of the exhaust gas. The heat of the exhaust gas is used in particular to evaporate water and supply same to the reformer in a superheated state. The syngas is then supplied to the furnace as fuel. The invention prevents undesired constituents of the furnace atmosphere, in particular sulfur compounds, from being supplied to the reformer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a very specific electroplating bath for depositing a black chromium layer, a respective method thereof, and a respective substrate with said black chromium layer thereon. The substrate comprising said black chromium layer is excellently suited for decorative purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for electrodepositing a dark chromium layer on a substrate and a substrate having at least one side fully covered with a dark chromium layer. The method includes utilizing an aqueous trivalent chromium electroplating bath comprising colloidal particles and a step of treating the substrate with a rinse liquid having a temperature of 50° C. or more.

Abstract: Galvanic nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a semi-bright nickel or semi-bright nickel alloy coating in which the electroplating bath includes at least one compound having the general formula (1) and/or a salt thereof wherein R1?C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising a SO3? group, a carboxylic group, or an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group; R2?NR3R4 moiety, or OR5 moiety, or cyclic NR6 moiety, wherein R3, R4, R5=hydrogen, or C1-C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, or C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group, wherein R3, R4 and R5 are identical or different; R6?C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety, or C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety wherein at least one carbon atom is substituted by a heteroatom; n=1-3; and wherein the electroplating bath further comprises at least one acetylenic compound and chloral hydrate.

Abstract: Galvanic nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a semi-bright nickel or semi-bright nickel alloy coating in which the electroplating bath includes at least one compound having the general formula (1) and/or a salt thereof wherein R1?C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising a SO3? group, a carboxylic group, or an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group; R2?NR3R4 moiety, or OR5 moiety, or cyclic NR6 moiety, wherein R3, R4, R5=hydrogen, or C1-C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, or C1-C18 hydrocarbon moiety comprising an aromatic and/or a heteroaromatic group, wherein R3, R4 and R5 are identical or different; R6?C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety, or C3-C8 hydrocarbon moiety wherein at least one carbon atom is substituted by a heteroatom; n=1-3; and wherein the electroplating bath further comprises at least one acetylenic compound and chloral hydrate.

Abstract: A method for post-treatment of a chromium finish surface to improve corrosion resistance comprising a) providing a substrate having a chromium finish surface, and at least one intermediate layer between the chromium finish surface and the substrate, selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, wherein the chromium finish surface is a surface of a trivalent chromium plated layer, obtained by electroplating the substrate, having the at least one intermediate layer, in a plating bath, the plating bath comprising chromium (III) ions; b) contacting the chromium finish surface with an aqueous solution, comprising a permanganate, at least one compound which is selected from a phosphorus-oxygen compound, a hydroxide, a nitrate, a borate, boric acid, a silicate, or a mixture of two or more of these compounds; c) forming a transparent corrosion protection layer onto the chromium finish surface during step b.

Abstract: A method for post-treatment of a chromium finish surface to improve corrosion resistance comprising a) providing a substrate having a chromium finish surface, and at least one intermediate layer between the chromium finish surface and the substrate, selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, wherein the chromium finish surface is a surface of a trivalent chromium plated layer, obtained by electroplating the substrate, having the at least one intermediate layer, in a plating bath, the plating bath comprising chromium (III) ions; b) contacting the chromium finish surface with an aqueous solution, comprising a permanganate, at least one compound which is selected from a phosphorus-oxygen compound, a hydroxide, a nitrate, a borate, boric acid, a silicate, or a mixture of two or more of these compounds; c) forming a transparent corrosion protection layer onto the chromium finish surface during step b.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic copper electroplating bath comprising: copper ions; at least one acid; halide ions; at least one sulfur containing compound selected form the group consisting of sodium 3-mercaptopropylsulfonate, bis(sodiumsulfopropyl)disulfide, 3-(N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl)-thiopropanesulfonic acid or the respective sodium salt thereof and mixtures of the aforementioned; at least one amine reaction product of diethylamine with epichlorohydrin or an amine reaction product of isobutyl amine with epichlorohydrin or mixtures of these reaction products; at least one ethylene diamine compound selected from the group having attached EO-PO-block polymers, attached EO-PO-block polymers and sulfosuccinate groups and mixtures thereof; at least one aromatic reaction product of benzylchloride with at least one polyalkylenimine and a method for electrolytically depositing of a copper coating using the electroplating bath.

Abstract: A method for post-treatment of a chromium finish surface to improve corrosion resistance comprising a) providing a substrate having a chromium finish surface, and at least one intermediate layer between the chromium finish surface and the substrate, selected from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloys, copper and copper alloys, wherein the chromium finish surface is a surface of a trivalent chromium plated layer, obtained by electroplating the substrate, having the at least one intermediate layer, in a plating bath, the plating bath comprising chromium (III) ions; b) contacting the chromium finish surface with an aqueous solution, comprising a permanganate, at least one compound which is selected from a phosphorus-oxygen compound, a hydroxide, a nitrate, a borate, boric acid, a silicate, or a mixture of two or more of these compounds; c) forming a transparent corrosion protection layer onto the chromium finish surface during step b.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plating composition for electrolytic copper deposition, comprising copper ions, halide ions and at least one acid, at least one benzothiazole compound, at least one phenazine dye and at least one ethanediamine derivative. The present invention further concerns the use of above plating composition and a method for electrolytically depositing a copper or copper alloy layer onto at least one surface of a substrate.

Abstract: Method for increasing corrosion resistance of substrate including an outermost chromium alloy layer, including (i) providing substrate comprising an outermost layer, the layer having color space defined by CIELAB with lightness L* of 79 or more, including oxygen and carbon, and including iron in amount up to 1 atom-%, (ii) providing an aqueous, acidic passivation solution, the solution including trivalent chromium ions, phosphate ions, one or more than one organic acid anion, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing electrical current between the substrate as cathode and an anode in the passivation solution wherein a passivation layer is deposited onto the outermost layer, wherein in step (i) the outermost layer is electrolytically deposited from aqueous, acidic deposition composition, the composition including trivalent chromium ions, at least one organic acid comprising an isothiureido moiety and/or salts thereof, and chloride ions in amount of 0 wt-% to 0.1 wt-%.

Abstract: A method for electrolytically passivating an outermost chromium or chromium alloy layer to increase corrosion resistance thereof, including steps of (i) providing a substrate comprising said outermost chromium or chromium alloy layer, (ii) providing or manufacturing an aqueous, acidic passivation solution comprising trivalent chromium ions, phosphate ions, one or more organic acid residue anion, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing an electrical current between the substrate as a cathode and an anode in the passivation solution such that a passivation layer is deposited onto the outermost layer, wherein the trivalent chromium ions are obtained by chemically reducing hexavalent chromium in presence of phosphoric acid and at least one reducing agent, with the proviso that during or after the chemical reducing the one or more than one organic acid residue anion is present for the first time in the passivation solution.

Abstract: Method for increasing corrosion resistance of substrate including an outermost chromium alloy layer, including (i) providing substrate comprising said outermost layer, the layer having color space defined by CIELAB with lightness L* of 79 or more, including oxygen and carbon, and including iron in amount up to 1 atom-%, (ii) providing an aqueous, acidic passivation solution, the solution including trivalent chromium ions, phosphate ions, one or more than one organic acid anion, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing electrical current between the substrate as cathode and an anode in the passivation solution wherein a passivation layer is deposited onto the outermost layer, wherein in step (i) the outermost layer is electrolytically deposited from aqueous, acidic deposition composition, the composition including trivalent chromium ions, at least one organic acid comprising an isothiureido moiety and/or salts thereof, and chloride ions in amount of 0 wt-% to 0.1 wt-%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plating composition for electrolytic copper deposition, comprising copper ions, halide ions and at least one acid, at least one benzothiazole compound, at least one phenazine dye and at least one ethanediamine derivative. The present invention further concerns the use of above plating composition and a method for electrolytically depositing a copper or copper alloy layer onto at least one surface of a substrate.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic copper electroplating bath comprising: copper ions; at least one acid; halide ions; at least one sulfur containing compound selected form the group consisting of sodium 3-mercaptopropylsulfonate, bis(sodiumsulfopropyl)disulfide, 3-(N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl)-thiopropanesulfonic acid or the respective sodium salt thereof and mixtures of the aforementioned; at least one amine reaction product of diethylamine with epichlorohydrin or an amine reaction product of isobutyl amine with epichlorohydrin or mixtures of these reaction products; at least one ethylene diamine compound selected from the group having attached EO-PO-block polymers, attached EO-PO-block polymers and sulfosuccinate groups and mixtures thereof; at least one aromatic reaction product of benzylchloride with at least one polyalkylenimine and a method for electrolytically depositing of a copper coating using the electroplating bath.

Abstract: A method for electrolytically passivating an outermost chromium or chromium alloy layer to increase corrosion resistance thereof, including steps of (i) providing a substrate comprising said outermost chromium or chromium alloy layer, (ii) providing or manufacturing an aqueous, acidic passivation solution comprising trivalent chromium ions, phosphate ions, one or more organic acid residue anion, (iii) contacting the substrate with the passivation solution and passing an electrical current between the substrate as a cathode and an anode in the passivation solution such that a passivation layer is deposited onto the outermost layer, wherein the trivalent chromium ions are obtained by chemically reducing hexavalent chromium in presence of phosphoric acid and at least one reducing agent, with the proviso that during or after the chemical reducing the one or more than one organic acid residue anion is present for the first time in the passivation solution.