Abstract: An admixture for cement comprises phosphorous acid and/or a salt thereof or a waste fluid originated from an electroless nickel-plating process which contains phosphorous acid and/or a salt thereof. The admixture is used as a setting accelerator, a rust proofing agent for reinforcing steel or a frost resistive agent for concrete and mortar as hydraulic cement blends. The admixture not only permits improvement of the resulting concrete in the setting-accelerating effect, but also can maintain the compressive strength at a high level while maintaining the bleeding rate at a low level.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroplating bath for forming a zinc-nickel alloy coating consisting essentially of water, about 1 to 70 grams/liter of zinc, about 0.6 to 118 grams per liter of nickel, at least one compound from the group consisting of (i) aliphatic amines in an amount not more than 16 grams/liter, (ii) polymers of aliphatic amines in an amount not more than about 20 grams per liter and (iii) a compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids and salts thereof in an amount from 0 to 2 mols/liter, said bath having a pH of more than 11. The invention also provides an electroplating method for forming a chromate coating on a zinc-nickel alloy coating electrolytically deposited from the electroplating bath defined in the preceding sentence on electrically conductive metalics matrix material, and forming a chromate coating on the zinc-nickel alloy coating by means of a chromate treatment.

Abstract: An electroplating bath for depositing tin or a tin alloy with satisfactory brightness, which comprises a mother bath of a pH-value ranging from 4 to 8 and containing citric acid or its salt, an ammonium salt and a water-soluble polymer as a brightener. The bath may further comprise an aldehyde compound as a co-brightener.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing tin or tin alloy electroplating baths containing citric acid or its salt and an ammonium salt, by adding at least one saturated hydroxycarboxylic acid or its salt other than citric acid or citrate and/or at least one saturated dibasic carboxylic acid.