Abstract: The surface of an aluminum substrate is modified to enhance the adhesion of the metal to polymeric materials. Intermediate layers, such as Zn/Sn, Co/Ni, and a Cu strike are applied before depositing a nodular Cu layer for bond enhancement. The surface treated aluminum substrate can be used in printed circuit boards, leadframes, or any electrical/electronic devices where Cu is typically used to reduce the cost and weight of the devices.

Abstract: A composite material useful for the manufacture of a circuit has a support layer, a metal foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of 15 microns or less and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the support layer, the release layer disposed between and contacting both the support layer and the metal foil layer. A reactive element containing layer, which may be the support layer, effective to react with gaseous elements or compounds to form thermally stable compounds contacts the release layer. The composite material is preferably subjected to a low temperature heat treatment. The combination of the low temperature heat treatment and the reactive element containing layer results in reduced defects including blisters in the copper foil during subsequent processing.

Abstract: An electrically conductive material coated with a plurality of layers, includes a metal or metal alloy substrate; a barrier layer deposited on said substrate effective to inhibit diffusion of constituents of said substrate to said plurality of layers; a sacrificial layer deposited on said barrier layer effective to form intermetallic compounds with tin; a low resistivity oxide metal layer deposited on said sacrificial layer; and an outermost layer of tin or a tin-base alloy directly deposited on said low resistivity oxide metal layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a copper foil for lamination to a dielectric substrate includes a layer deposited on a surface of the copper foil. The layer is formed from chromium and zinc ions or oxides and is treated with an aqueous solution containing at least 0.5% silane. In another aspect, a peel strength enhancement coating is disposed between a copper foil laminate and a dielectric substrate. The peel strength enhancement coating comprises a metal and metal oxide mixture containing a metal selected from groups 5B, 6B, and 7B of the periodic table of the elements. The effective thickness of the peel strength enhancement coating is that thickness capable of providing less than or equal to 10% loss of peel strength, when measured in accordance with IPC-TM-650 Method 2.4.8.5 using a ? inch wide test specimen, after being immersed in 4N HCl at about 60° C. for 6 hours.

Abstract: A composite material useful for the manufacture of a circuit has a support layer, a metal foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of 15 microns or less and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the support layer, the release layer disposed between and contacting both the support layer and the metal foil layer. A reactive element containing layer, which may be the support layer, effective to react with gaseous elements or compounds to form thermally stable compounds contacts the release layer. The composite material is preferably subjected to a low temperature heat treatment. The combination of the low temperature heat treatment and the reactive element containing layer results in reduced defects including blisters in the copper foil during subsequent processing.

Abstract: A coated electrically conductive substrate has particular utility where there are multiple closely spaced leads and tin whiskers constitute a potential short circuit. Such substrates include leadframes, terminal pins and circuit traces such as on printed circuit boards and flexible circuits. This electrically conductive substrate has a plurality of leads separated by a distance capable of bridging by a tin whisker, a silver or silver-base alloy layer coating at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of leads, and a fine grain tin or tin-base alloy layer directly coating said silver layer. An alternative coated electrically conductive substrate has particular utility where debris from fretting wear may oxidize and increase electrical resistivity, such an in a connector assembly. This electrically conductive substrate has a barrier layer deposited on the substrate that is effective to inhibit diffusion of constituents the substrate into a plurality of subsequently deposited layers.

Abstract: A coated electrically conductive substrate has particular utility where there are multiple closely spaced leads and tin whiskers constitute a potential short circuit. This electrically conductive substrate has a plurality of leads separated by a distance capable of bridging by a tin whisker, a silver or silver-base alloy layer coating at least one surface of at least one of the plurality of leads, and a fine grain tin or tin-base alloy layer directly coating said silver layer. An alternative coated electrically conductive substrate has utility where debris from fretting wear may increase electrical resistivity. This electrically conductive substrate has a barrier layer deposited on the substrate that is effective to inhibit diffusion of the substrate into a subsequently deposited layers, which include a sacrificial layer deposited on the barrier layer that is effective to form intermetallic compounds with tin, and a low resistivity oxide metal layer deposited on the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A composite material useful for the manufacture of a circuit has a support layer, a metal foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of 15 microns or less and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the support layer, the release layer disposed between and contacting both the support layer and the metal foil layer. A reactive element containing layer, which may be the support layer, effective to react with gaseous elements or compounds to form thermally stable compounds contacts the release layer. The composite material is preferably subjected to a low temperature heat treatment. The combination of the low temperature heat treatment and the reactive element containing layer results in reduced defects including blisters in the copper foil during subsequent processing.

Abstract: A composite material, comprising a carrier strip the carrier strip comprising a first side the first side comprising a substantially uniform roughness, an electrolytically deposited copper foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of from 0.1 micron to 15 microns and the entire metal foil layer thickness having been deposited from a copper containing alkaline electrolyte, and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the carrier strip disposed between and contacting both the first side of the carrier strip and the second side of the metal foil layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aqueous, antitarnish and adhesion promoting treatment composition, comprising: zinc ions; metal ions selected from the group consisting of tungsten ions, molybdenum ions, cobalt ions, nickel ions, zirconium ions, titanium ions, manganese ions, vanadium ions, iron ions, tin ions, indium ions, silver ions, and combinations thereof; and optionally, an electrolyte that does not contain potassium or sodium ions; wherein the treatment composition is substantially free of chromium, and wherein the treatment composition forms a coating on a substrate or material that enhances adhesion of a polymer to the material. The present invention is also directed to materials coated with the above treatment composition, and methods of coating materials using the above composition.

Abstract: Aqueous electroplating solutions and methods are provided for the codeposition of zinc and chromium. The solutions include effective amounts of zinc, chromium, and hydroxyl ions. The solutions further include an effective amount of one or more ions of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or a combination thereof other than sodium and potassium, to in major part balance the hydroxyl ions. A preferred alkali metal is rubidium.

Abstract: In one aspect, a copper foil for lamination to a dielectric substrate includes a layer deposited on a surface of the copper foil. The layer is formed from chromium and zinc ions or oxides and is treated with an aqueous solution containing at least 0.5% silane. In another aspect, a peel strength enhancement coating is disposed between a copper foil laminate and a dielectric substrate. The peel strength enhancement coating comprises a metal and metal oxide mixture containing a metal selected from groups 5B, 6B, and 7B of the periodic table of the elements. The effective thickness of the peel strength enhancement coating is that thickness capable of providing less than or equal to 10% loss of peel strength, when measured in accordance with IPC-TM-650 Method 2.4.8.5 using a ⅛ inch wide test specimen, after being immersed in 4N HCl at about 60° C. for 6 hours.

Abstract: A copper foil for lamination to a dielectric substrate is coated with a laser ablation inhibiting layer having an average surface roughness (Rz) of less than 1.0 micron and an average nodule height of less than 1.2 micron that is effective to provide a lamination peel strength to FR-4 of at least 4.5 pounds per inch. The coated foil further has a reflectivity value of at least 40. The coated foil is typically laminated to a dielectric substrate, such as glass reinforced epoxy or polyimide and imaged into a plurality of circuit traces. Blind vias may be drilled through the dielectric terminating at an interface between the foil and the dielectric. The coated foil of the invention resists laser ablation, thereby resisting piercing of the foil by the laser during drilling.

Abstract: A composite material includes a structural carrier layer and a relatively thin metal foil layer separated by a release layer. The release layer, that may be an admixture of a metal such as nickel or chromium and a non-metal such as chromium oxide, nickel oxide, chromium phosphate or nickel phosphate, provides a release force for the metal foil layer from the carrier strip that is typically on the order of 0.1 pound per inch to 2 pounds per inch. This provides sufficient adhesion to prevent premature separation of the metal foil layer from the carrier layer, but easy removal of the carrier layer when desired. The metal foil layer may be electrolytically formed copper having a low height profile, on the order of 0.5 micron to 2.7 microns, bond strength enhancing agent coating a side of the metal foil layer. The enhanced surface is subsequently bonded to a dielectric and the carrier layer then removed.

Abstract: A composite material, comprising a carrier strip the carrier strip comprising a first side the first side comprising a substantially uniform roughness, an electrolytically deposited copper foil layer having opposing first and second sides and a thickness of from 0.1 micron to 15 microns and the entire metal foil layer thickness having been deposited from a copper containing alkaline electrolyte, and a release layer effective to facilitate separation of the metal foil layer from the carrier strip disposed between and contacting both the first side of the carrier strip and the second side of the metal foil layer.

Abstract: A composite material includes a structural carrier layer and a relatively thin metal foil layer separated by a release layer. The release layer, that may be an admixture of a metal such as nickel or chromium and a non-metal such as chromium oxide, nickel oxide, chromium phosphate or nickel phosphate, provides a release force for the metal foil layer from the carrier strip that is typically on the order of 0.1 pound per inch to 2 pounds per inch. This provides sufficient adhesion to prevent premature separation of the metal foil layer from the carrier layer, but easy removal of the carrier layer when desired. The metal foil layer may be electrolytically formed copper having a low height profile, on the order of 0.5 micron to 2.7 microns, bond strength enhancing agent coating a side of the metal foil layer. The enhanced surface is subsequently bonded to a dielectric and the carrier layer then removed.

Abstract: Aqueous electroplating solutions and methods are provided for the codeposition of zinc and chromium. The solutions include effective amounts of zinc, chromium, and hydroxyl ions. The solutions further include an effective amount of one or more ions of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or a combination thereof other than sodium and potassium, to in major part balance the hydroxyl ions. A preferred alkali metal is rubidium.

Abstract: An electrical conductor has a copper base substrate coated with a tin base coating layer. To inhibit the formation of a copper/tin intermetallic and the resultant depletion of the free, unreacted, tin utilized as an oxidation and corrosion barrier, a barrier is interposed between the substrate and the coating. In a first embodiment, the barrier is formed from multiple constituent layers, at least one of which is copper. The thickness ("y") of the copper layer is dependent on the anticipated service temperature and satisfies the equation y=(-1.52+0.0871x+0.00859 t).+-.50% where t=anticipated time at the service temperature, x=anticipated service temperature (Celsius), and y=the thickness of the copper layer in microinches. In a second embodiment, the barrier layer is formed from one or more constituent layers, at least one of which is iron or iron base.

Abstract: There is provided a molded plastic electronic package having improved thermal dissipation. A heat spreader, formed from aluminum or an aluminum alloy, is partially encapsulated in the molding resin. Forming a black anodization layer on the surface of the heat spreader improves both thermal dissipation and adhesion to the molding resin.

Abstract: A technique for improving the tarnish and oxidation resistance of metallic substrate is disclosed. The substrate is immersed in an aqueous solution containing sodium hydroxide, zinc ions and chromium (VI) ions. Either the temperature of the aqueous solution or the current density is selected so that at least one surface of the substrate is coated with a nontransparent layer. A chromium-zinc coating is electrolytically applied. The coating provides tarnish resistance at temperatures in excess of 230.degree. C. The coating is removable by immersion in sulfuric acid. Improved results are obtained by rinsing deionized water containing a small amount of an alkaline or alkaline earth hydroxide.