Electroplating Patents (Class 428/935)
  • Patent number: 9028972
    Abstract: A copper foil for a printed wiring board, the copper foil being characterized by having, on at least one surface thereof, a roughed layer of the copper foil in which an average diameter at a particle root (D1) corresponding to a distance of 10% of a particle length from the root, is 0.2 ?m to 1.0 ?m, and a ratio of the particle length (L1) to the average diameter at the particle root (D1) is 15 or less when L1/D1. A copper foil for a printed wiring board, wherein a sum of area covered by holes on an uneven and roughened surface of a resin is 20% or more at a surface of the resin formed by laminating the resin and a copper foil for a printed wiring having a roughened layer and then removing the copper layer by etching. An object of the present invention is to develop a copper foil for a semiconductor package board in which the aforementioned phenomenon of circuit erosion is avoided without deteriorating other properties of the copper foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Michiya Kohiki, Terumasa Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8936857
    Abstract: Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. The article may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Dadvand, Christopher A. Schuh, Alan C. Lund, Jonathan C. Trenkle, John Cahalen
  • Patent number: 8915761
    Abstract: A connector terminal which can achieve high mechanical connection strength and stabilized low electrical connection resistance when it is crimped to an aluminum electric wire, and in addition, can suppress electrical contact resistance low when it is fitted to a mating connector terminal is provided. In a connector terminal (1A) having an electrical contact section (10) which is brought into contact and conducted with a mating connector terminal by fitting to the mating connector terminal, and a conductor crimping section (12) which is crimped to the conductor of an electric wire, a metal material which constitutes the terminal uses aluminum or an aluminum alloy as a base material (100), a Zn layer (101) having a thickness in the range from 0.1 ?m to 2.0 ?m by electroless plating and a Cu layer (102) having a thickness in the range from 0.5 ?m to 1.0 ?m by electrolytic plating are formed in sequence on the surface of the base material (100), and an Sn layer (105) having a thickness in the range from 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kakuta
  • Patent number: 8795846
    Abstract: Provided is a Ni-plated steel sheet having excellent press formability. An Fe—Ni diffusion layer and a softened Ni layer formed on the Fe—Ni diffusion layer are formed on a surface of a steel sheet corresponding to an outer surface of a battery can, a semi-bright Ni plating layer is formed on the softened Ni layer, a Ni coating weight of the Fe—Ni diffusion layer and the softened Ni layer formed on the Fe—Ni diffusion layer is set smaller than a Ni coating weight of the semi-bright Ni plating layer, and average roughness Ra of the semi-bright Ni plating layer measured by a traceable roughness gauge is 1.0 ?m or more and 2.0 ?m or less, and a maximum height Ry of the semi-bright Ni plating layer measured by the traceable roughness gauge is 5 ?m or more and 20 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Minagi, Eiji Okamatsu
  • Patent number: 8709612
    Abstract: A laminated ceramic capacitor includes a rectangular solid-shaped electronic component element. External electrodes of terminal electrodes are disposed at one end surface and the other end surface of the electronic component element. First plated films including a Ni plating are disposed on the surfaces of external electrodes. On the surfaces of the first plated films, second plated films containing Sn are disposed as Sn-plated films defining outermost layers of the external electrodes. The second plated films have a polycrystalline structure, and flake-shaped Sn—Ni alloy grains are located at a Sn crystal grain boundary and within a Sn crystal grain, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Motoki, Makoto Ogawa, Atsuko Saito, Toshinobu Fujiwara, Kenji Masuko
  • Patent number: 8652649
    Abstract: Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. In some cases, the coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity. The articles may be coated, for example, using an electrodeposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: John Cahalen, Alan C. Lund, Christopher A. Schuh
  • Patent number: 8637165
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant electrical connector is disclosed. A multi-layer nickel underplating is applied to the substrate material of the connector contacts. The three layers of nickel include a leveling nickel layer, a sulfumate nickel layer, and a high-phosphorous nickel layer. A layer of gold is applied to the nickel underplating in an embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Siahaan, John B. Ardisana, II, Mathias Schmidt, Jason Sloey, Albert J. Golko, Eric Jol
  • Patent number: 8449987
    Abstract: Provided is a rolled copper or copper alloy foil having a roughened surface formed of fine copper particles, obtained by subjecting a rolled copper or copper alloy foil to roughening plating with a plating bath containing copper sulfate (Cu equivalent of 1 to 50 g/L), 1 to 150 g/L of sulfuric acid, and one or more additives selected among sodium octyl sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate under the conditions of a temperature of 20 to 50° C. and a current density of 10 to 100 A/dm2. The provided rolled copper or copper alloy foil subject to roughening is reduced in craters which are obvious defects unique to rolled copper or copper alloy foils having a roughened surface, has high strength, adhesive strength with the resin layer, acid resistance and anti-tin plating solution properties, high peel strength, favorable etching properties and gloss level, and also suits for use in producing a flexible printed wiring board capable of bearing a fine wiring pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Kobayashi, Atsushi Miki, Keisuke Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 8445114
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Amitava Datta, John D. Carpenter, Aaron T. Nardi, Blair A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8445116
    Abstract: Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. The article may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Xtalic Corporation
    Inventors: Nazila Dadvand, Christopher A. Schuh, Alan C. Lund, Jonathan C. Trenkle, John Cahalen
  • Patent number: 8226810
    Abstract: The invention concerns a galvanic deposition method for an anthracite colored coating for metallic parts, including a first step of depositing a gold-nickel alloy by means of an electrolytic bath, characterized in that it includes a second step of treating said gold-nickel alloy by means of a diluted acid bath, containing an acid selected from among hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, phosphoric, nitric and sulphuric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Universo S.A.
    Inventor: Christophe Henzirohs
  • Patent number: 8202627
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: USC, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Z. Reath, Amitava Datta, John D. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7985485
    Abstract: A copper foil reducing transmission loss at a high frequency and excellent in bond strength with a resin substrate, including at least a granular layer and a columnar layer in its thickness direction, the columnar layer being formed on at least one surface of the granular layer forming the copper foil or the granular layer being formed on at least one surface of the columnar layer forming the copper foil, the relation of the thickness A of the granular layer and the thickness B of the columnar layer in the copper foil being preferably A/(A+B)=40 to 99%, a method of production and apparatus for production for the same, and a high frequency circuit using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takami Moteki, Yuuji Suzuki, Kazuhiro Hoshino, Kensaku Shinozaki, Akira Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7923390
    Abstract: A yarn or multi-fiber formed of a plurality of micron diameter stainless steel monofilaments which have been rendered more conductive by one or more coatings of electrolytically-deposited metal or metal alloy materials. The metallized yarn provided by the invention has a very low electrical resistance, with consequent benefit in electrical performance, and is particularly useful as an RFI/EMI shielding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Micrometal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Burke, James E. Haller
  • Patent number: 7914879
    Abstract: An endless fusing thick belt for an electrographic imaging device having a flexible tubular configuration of predetermined diameter, said endless fusing thick belt comprising; an outside surface toner release layer comprised of a coating and a sleeve; a silicone rubber layer positioned inside said outside surface toner release layer; a rigid material layer positioned inside said silicone rubber layer; and a silicone base layer positioned inside and affixed to the internal surface of said polyimide layer using an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jichang Cao, Scott Shiaoshin Wu
  • Patent number: 7897265
    Abstract: A coating which improves the wear performance of a part is described. The coating is applied over an article such as a part or a workpiece using an electroplating process. The coating broadly includes a cobalt material matrix with a hardness of at least 550 HV and a plurality of carbide particles distributed throughout the cobalt material matrix. The cobalt material matrix may be a cobalt-phosphorous alloy. The particles interspersed throughout the matrix may be chrome carbide or silicon carbide particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron T. Nardi, Blair A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7887930
    Abstract: A crystalline chromium deposit having a lattice parameter of 2.8895+/?0.0025 ?, and an article including the crystalline chromium deposit. An article including a crystalline chromium deposit, wherein the crystalline chromium deposit has a {111} preferred orientation. A process for electrodepositing a crystalline chromium deposit on a substrate, including providing an electroplating bath comprising trivalent chromium and a source of divalent sulfur, and substantially free of hexavalent chromium; immersing a substrate in the electroplating bath; and applying an electrical current to deposit a crystalline chromium deposit on the substrate, wherein the chromium deposit is crystalline as deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Craig V. Bishop, Agnes Rousseau, Zoltan Mathe
  • Patent number: 7867625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Cu—Sn—O alloy plating having an oxygen content of 0.3 to 50 at %, a copper content of 20 to 80 at %, and a tin content of 10 to 70 at % in the plating. The present invention provides a copper tin alloy plating that has excellent plating adhesion and disengaging force stability and particularly a Cu—Sn—O alloy plating that has a blackish color tone without containing any controlled substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Nihon New Chrome Co., Ltd., YKK Snap Fasteners Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Urata, Kazuhito Kitagawa, Yukio Ogawa, Kenji Kasegawa
  • Patent number: 7862902
    Abstract: The invention describes a multi-layered bearing with a supporting metal layer, optionally a bearing metal layer disposed on top of it, an anti-friction layer on top of the latter as well as a wearing layer on top of it. The wearing layer is made from bismuth or a bismuth alloy and the anti-friction layer is made from a copper-bismuth or silver-bismuth alloy or silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Miba Gleitlager GmbH, KS Gleitlager GmbH
    Inventor: Jakob Zidar
  • Patent number: 7842397
    Abstract: A nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no nickel chloride; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4. Another nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no boric acid; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ito, Katsuyuki Matsumoto, Koji Nukaga, Yasuhiro Kusano, Kenji Yokomizo, Shingo Watanabe, Hiroyuki Ogawara, Katsumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7691487
    Abstract: The present invention provides electrodeposited copper foil with a carrier foil which permits the formation of finer-pitch circuits and also enables the multilayer process to be easily performed to meet the requirements for recent printed wiring boards. According to the invention, there is provided electrodeposited copper foil with a carrier foil in which an adhesive interface layer is formed on a surface of the carrier foil and an electrodeposited copper foil layer is formed on the adhesive interface layer, which is characterized in that the electrodeposited copper foil layer is provided with a passivated layer formed without performing roughening treatment as nodular treatment and that a nickel-zinc alloy consisting essentially of 50 to 99% nickel by weight and 50 to 1% zinc by weight is adopted as the passivated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Nagatani
  • Patent number: 7651784
    Abstract: The invention describes a sliding element, in particular a sliding bearing, with a support element and a sliding layer, between which a bearing metal layer is arranged, wherein the sliding layer is made from bismuth or a bismuth alloy, and wherein the crystallites of the bismuth or the bismuth alloy in the sliding layer adopt a preferred direction with respect to their orientation, expressed by the Miller index of the lattice plane (012), wherein the X-ray diffraction intensity of the lattice plane (012) is the greatest compared to the X-ray diffraction intensities of other lattice planes. The X-ray diffraction intensity of the lattice plane with the second-largest X-ray diffraction intensity is a maximum of 10% of the X-ray diffraction intensity of the lattice plane (012).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Miba Gleitlager GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Rumpf
  • Patent number: 7638721
    Abstract: A contact surface. for electrical contacts may include an Ag layer deposited on a copper-based substrate using galvanic methods. The Ag layer includes finely dispersed graphite particles in a quantity of, e.g., 1 to 3 weight % of the Ag layer, the graphite particles having a length in the range of, e.g., 0.5 to 20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Rehbein, Volker Haas
  • Patent number: 7393594
    Abstract: A laminated metal thin plate produced by electrodeposition is composed of a plurality of metal layers provided by at least two kinds of materials different in composition from each other. The laminated metal thin plate includes a first layer excellent in mechanical characteristics and/or chemical resistance and a second layer excellent in electrical characteristics such as electrical conductivity. The first and the second layers are adhered to each other in atomic level directly at their interface, with composition gradient at their interface, or with an adherence buffer layer such as a copper thin film interposed therebetween. The first layer is at first deposited on an electrode substrate. The second layer is deposited on the first layer. Deposition is repeatedly carried out in such a way that the first layers on opposite sides of the second layer are equal in thickness. Finally, the electrode substrate is dissolved and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventors: Tohru Yamasaki, Takayasu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7318963
    Abstract: A composite chromium plating film containing hard particles in network-shaped microcracks, a surface-occupying ratio of the microcracks being 10 to 20% by area, a distribution density of the microcracks being 1,200 to 2,500/cm, and the amount of the above hard particles being 1 to 15% by mass per 100% by mass of the above entire plating film. This composite chromium plating film has excellent wear resistance and scuffing resistance with small attacking ability to a mating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Riken
    Inventors: Takeo Oshimi, Kiyotaka Oku, Katsumi Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7288327
    Abstract: Various structures or components can include plated surfaces or other parts. For example, an article can include a base and a plated part with a limit artifact that results from plating adjacent a non-plateable surface; the limit artifact can be disposed away from the base. Exemplary limit artifacts include lack of protrusions, smooth upper surfaces, and curved surfaces, where a curved surface can transition between a smooth upper surface and an irregular side surface. Exemplary plated structures can be tube-shaped or cup-shaped, with an opening at a top end and, around the opening, a lip with a limit artifact. Wall-like structures can similarly have limit artifacts at their top end. If plating on a mold's side surface, the non-plateable surface can be the lower surface of an overhanging polymer disk or structure positioned on the mold. Plated tubes and wall-like structures can be employed in microfluidic structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jurgen Daniel, Brent S. Krusor, Alexandra Rodkin, John S Fitch
  • Patent number: 7285319
    Abstract: An engraved surface in a metallic workpiece and an engraving method therefor, for use in providing a decorative metallic surface. An engraved pattern is formed in a workpiece prior to the formation of an electroplated layer that continuously extends over the engraved pattern and adjacent surface areas of the workpiece. The engraved pattern includes wall-cut engravings inscribed in the workpiece that are used to define outer boundaries of the engraved pattern. The substantially vertical walls obtained by such wall-cut engravings permits a sharp, well-defined boundary between the engraved pattern and adjacent painted surfaces. A mask material is first applied to cover the engraved pattern, and then trimmed to create the sharp edge at the boundary of the engraved pattern. This permits a paint layer to be formed immediately adjacent to the engraved pattern, providing a decorative juxtaposition in an electroplated metallic surface after removal of the mask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventors: Jason Austin Steiner, Sandy Austin Steiner
  • Patent number: 7215916
    Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide an endless metal belt superior in flexing resistance and durability, to provide a fixing belt using the endless metal belt, and to provide a heat fixing device with high durability and high reliability. The objects are achieved by the endless metal belt formed of a nickel alloy containing 5% by weight or more of an additional metallic element and having a half-value width of an X-ray diffraction peak in a range of 0.5 degrees to 2 degrees for each of a crystal plane and a crystal plane, and by using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Kishino, Yaomin Zhou, Kohji Sasaki, Junichi Takahashi, Makoto Miyagi, Nobuhiro Arai
  • Patent number: 7179541
    Abstract: A method for heat treatment of a cold rolled strip with a surface coating of Ni and/or Co and incorporated non-metallic elements C and/or S, if need be with the addition of Fe, In, Pd, Au and/or Bi, whereby the cold rolled strip has a low carbon content. Since the compounds of C, S, N and P deposited on the grain boundaries bring about the most micro-cracks with the surface coating metal if no recrystallization takes place, the temperature of the heat treatment should be selected lower than the recrystallization temperature and higher than the precipitation temperature. With a recrystallization, the grain sizes would easily attain the thickness of the coating so that the embrittled compounds would migrate with the grain boundaries out of the coating. Due to the choice of temperature of the heat treatment of the surface coating of the invention, in contrast, an optimal embrittlement of the grain boundaries is guaranteed, which is especially advantageous in the manufacture of battery cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hille & Muller GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Olberding, Beate Monscheuer, Claudia Dahmen, Karlfried Pfeifenbring
  • Patent number: 7160629
    Abstract: Electrolyte compositions for the deposition of tin and tin-alloys on a substrate are disclosed, along with methods of electroplating tin and tin-alloys using such compositions. These electrolyte compositions are useful for high speed tin plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Crosby
  • Patent number: 7157152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Cu—Sn—O alloy plating having an oxygen content of 0.3 to 50 at %, a copper content of 20 to 80 at %, and a tin content of 10 to 70 at % in the plating. The present invention provides a copper tin alloy plating that has excellent plating adhesion and disengaging force stability and particularly a Cu—Sn—O alloy plating that has a blackish color tone without containing any controlled substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignees: Nihon New Chrome Co., Ltd., YKK Snap Fasteners Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Urata, Kazuhiro Kitagawa, Yukio Ogawa, Kenji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7144637
    Abstract: The present invention provides a black, chrome-free, multilayer corrosion protection finish designed to meet extended corrosion properties. This corrosion-resistant finish is engineered to meet a minimum of 500 salt spray testing hours to white corrosion, and 1500 salt spray testing hours to red corrosion when tested to ASTM B117 standards. It is also designed to comply with the European Union Directive on End of Life Vehicles. This multilayer system is designed for use on automotive body sheet steel, automotive underbody parts, automotive under-hood parts, and some automotive interior parts specifying a gloss requirement greater than 4. This chrome-free, multilayer finish is a combination of a zinc-iron electroplated substrate, a non-electrolytic phosphate crystal conversion layer using orthophosphoric acid, and a Xylan/Teflon fluorocarbon sealer coating to form a three layer total corrosion protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventor: Kurt J. Thomae
  • Patent number: 7125610
    Abstract: A capacitor comprising an aluminum anode and a dielectric layer comprising phosphate doped aluminum oxide and process for making the capacitor. The capacitor has a CV Product of at least 9 ?F-V/cm2 at 250 volts. Furthermore, the capacitor is formed by the process of: forming an aluminum plate; contacting the plate with an anodizing solution comprising glycerine, 0.1 to 1.0%, by weight, water and 0.01 to 0.5%, by weight, orthophosphate; applying a voltage to the aluminum plate and determining an initial current; maintaining the first voltage until a first measured current is no more than 50% of the initial current; increasing the voltage and redetermining the initial current; maintaining the increased voltage until a second measured current is no more than 50% of the redetermined initial current, and continuing the increasing of the voltage and maintaining the increased voltage until a final voltage is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Kemet Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Tony Kinard, Anita Melody, legal representative, David Alexander Wheeler, Duane Earl Stenzinger, Albert Kennedy Harrington, Brian John Melody, deceased
  • Patent number: 7115325
    Abstract: An aqueous suspension liquid of finely divided diamond particles comprising 0.05 to 160 parts by weight of a finely divided diamond particles in 1000 parts of water, wherein; (i) the finely divided diamond particles have an element composition consisting mainly of 72 to 89.5% by weight of carbon, 0.8 to 1.5% of hydrogen, 1.5 to 2.5% of nitrogen, and 10.5 to 25.0% of oxygen; (ii) and, almost all of said diamond particles are in the range of 2 nm to 50 nm in diameters thereof (80% or more by number average, 70% or more by weight average), (iii) and, said finely divided diamond particles exhibit a strongest peak of the intensity of the Bragg angle at 43.9° (2?±2°), strong and characteristic peaks at 73.5° (2?±2°)and 95° (2?±2°), a warped halo at 17° (2?±2°), and no peak at 26.5°, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum analysis using Cu-K? radiation when dried, (iv) and, specific surface area of said diamond particles when dry state powder is not smaller than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Inventors: Tadamasa Fujimura, Masato Sone, Valeri Yu. Dolmatov, Shigeru Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 7063897
    Abstract: A Bi base material of which a Miller index (202) face has the index of orientation of not less than 30% and in which the (202) face has the index of orientation assuming a maximum value as compared with those of other faces forms a minute structure and has a surface which is not a mirror finished surface but a fine, irregular surface on which minute and uniform projections in the form of a triangular pyramid or a quadrangular pyramid congregate. Therefore, the surface easily retains oil thereon to be improved thereby in oil wettability, as a result of which an improvement in anti-seizure is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kawachi, Hideo Ishikawa, Masaaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7022417
    Abstract: A metal belt of the present invention is formed to be endless by electroforming, has a crystal orientation in which a crystal orientation ratio I(200)/I(111) is not less than 80 and not more than 250, mainly contains nickel, and has an excellent durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Takagi, Goki Inukai
  • Patent number: 7022419
    Abstract: A composite nickel and copper alloy plating film (3) containing nickel and copper. Nickel is of high wear resistance and a nickel alloy improves the wear resistance of the film. Copper is of high resistance of the film. The film may further contain self-lubricating particles and hard particles which ensure its wear resistance and lubricating property to a further extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Ishigami, Tomohiro Hirata, Yoshimitsu Ogawa, Nobuhiko Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 7018720
    Abstract: The layer sequence built on a substrate in thin-film technology includes an electrically conductive sputtered layer and an electrically conductive reinforcing layer for reinforcing or strengthening the sputtered layer, which is applied on the sputtered layer by a method other than sputtering. In order to remove conducting material from the conductive layers with the aid of a laser for the purposes of adjustment while producing as little contaminating material as possible, the electrically conductive reinforcing layer has a reduced thickness or is completely eliminated in regions of the electrically conductive layers to be adjusted than in other regions outside of the regions to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schallner, Soeren Steinert
  • Patent number: 6994919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brazing sheet product including a core sheet, on at least one side of the core sheet a clad layer of an aluminum alloy including silicon in an amount in the range of 4 to 14% by weight, and further including on at least one outersurface of the clad layer a plated layer of nickel-tin alloy, such that the clad layer and all layers exterior thereto form a metal filler for a brazing operation and have a composition with the proviso that the mol-ratio of Ni:Sn is in the range of 10:(0.5 to 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignees: Corus Aluminium Walzprodukte GmbH, Corus Technology BV
    Inventors: Jacques Hubert Olga Joseph Wijenberg, Adrianus Jacobus Wittebrood, Joop Nicolaas Mooij
  • Patent number: 6989199
    Abstract: The object is to provide a copper foil excellent in the property of selective etching between a resistor layer and a copper layer required in production of a printed-wiring board, and also excellent in UL heat resistance. For this purpose, a copper foil for printed-wiring board comprising a nodular treatment side on one side, wherein a nickel-zinc alloy layer is formed on the nodular treatment side is used for applications of printed-wiring boards. At the same time, a production method suitable for production of the copper foil is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamoto, Masaru Takahashi, Masamichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6989087
    Abstract: A method of forming a surface finish of trivalent chromium on metal or plastics substrates by electrodeposition from an aqueous plating solution of trivalent chromium ions in which the trivalent chromium is deposited on a layer of silver or silver alloy whereby the color and/or corrosion resistance of the trivalent chromium is comparable to surface finishes of hexavalent chromium. The invention avoids the health and safety risks associated with the electrodeposition of hexavalent chromium surface finishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Averell William Lansdell, John Peter George Farr
  • Patent number: 6984453
    Abstract: An object is the provision of a peelable electrodeposited copper foil with carrier foil that stabilizes the peel strength between the carrier foil and the electrodeposited copper foil layer even when used in manufacture of the printed wiring boards that requires pressing at the temperatures of 200° C. or higher. For the purpose of achieving the object, the electrodeposited copper foil with carrier foil 1, which includes an adhesive interface layer 4 arranged on one face of the carrier foil 2 and an electrodeposited copper foil layer 3 arranged on the adhesive interface layer 4, characterized in that the adhesive interface layer 4 is composed of a metal oxide layer ML and an organic material layer OL, and the like are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Sugimoto, Junshi Yoshioka, Makoto Dobashi
  • Patent number: 6982012
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high strength steel sheet containing, in mass %, C: 0.02 to 0.04%, Si: at most 0.4%, Mn: 0.5-3.0%, P: at most 0.15%, S: at most 0.03%, Al: at most 0.50%, N: at most 0.01%, and Mo: 0.01-1.0%. The method includes performing hot rough rolling either directly or after heating to a temperature of at most 1300° C., commencing hot finish rolling either directly or after reheating or holding, completing finish rolling at a temperature of at least 780° C., performing coiling after cooling to a temperature of 750° C. or below at an average cooling rate of at least 3° C./second, heating to an annealing temperature of at least 700° C. and then cooling to a temperature of 600° C. or below at an average cooling rate of at least 3° C./second, then holding in a temperature range of 450-600° C. for at least 10 seconds, and performing hot dip galvanizing after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Nomura, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6974636
    Abstract: A turbine engine component comprising a substrate made of a nickel-base or cobalt-base superalloy and a protective coating overlying the substrate, the coating formed by electroplating at least two platinum group metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. The protective coating is typically heat treated to increase homogeneity of the coating and adherence with the substrate. The component typically further comprises a ceramic thermal barrier coating overlying the protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for forming the protective coating on the turbine engine component by electroplating the platinum group metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramgopal Darolia, Mark Daniel Gorman, Melvin Robert Jackson, Ji-Cheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 6974533
    Abstract: An improved electrode and method for manufacturing the improved electrode wherein the electrode having a fractal surface coating of platinum [which the present inventor refers to as “platinum gray”] with a increase in surface area of at least 5 times when compared to shiny platinum of the same geometry and also having improved resistance to physical stress when compared to platinum black having the same surface area. The process of electroplating the surface coating of platinum gray comprising plating at a moderate rate, i.e., at a rate that is faster than the rate necessary to produce shiny platinum and that is less than the rate necessary to produce platinum black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Dao Min Zhou
  • Patent number: 6969557
    Abstract: The invention provides a surface-treated copper foil which can sufficiently ensure adhesive strength with a low-dielectric substrate used in forming a printed wiring board for high-frequency applications and can minimize transmission losses. There is provided a surface-treated copper foil for a low-dielectric substrate which is used in bonded relationship to a low-dielectric substrate, which is characterized in that a nodular-treated layer constituted by bump-like copper particles is formed on a surface of the copper foil and that ultrafine copper particles are caused to precipitate on the whole surface of the nodular-treated layer and adhere thereto and the roughness value Rz of the surface is 1.0 to 6.5 ?m. The surface color of the surface-treated copper foil has L* of not more than 50, a* of not more than 20 and b* of not more than 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Matsuda, Takashi Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6939621
    Abstract: A plated copper alloy material for connecting terminals is provided which comprises a parent material of copper or copper alloy, a nickel layer and a copper-tin alloy layer. The nickel layer has a thickness of 0.1-1.0 ?m. The copper-tin alloy layer has a thickness of 0.1-1.0 ?m and contains 35-75 at % of copper. The material may additionally have a tin layer no thicker than 0.5 ?m for an engaging type terminal containing 0.001-0.1 mass % of carbon, or thicker than 0.5 ?m for a non-engaging type connector. The material meets requirements for capability of insertion with a small force, good electric reliability (due to low contact resistance) in a high-temperature atmosphere, workability for sharp bending without cracking, good solder wettability and good corrosion resistance to sulfur dioxide gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Hara, Yasuhiro Shintani, Masayasu Nishimura, Ryoichi Ozaki, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6938552
    Abstract: Structure incorporating lead is fabricated from specially prepared components such that mobility of the lead is impeded when the structure is exposed to an unprotected environment such as weathering outdoors or saltwater. In a preferred embodiment, a bullet or bullet core is swaged from a number of bunched electroplated fine lead or lead-alloy wires placed in a die. The lead or lead-alloy wires may be fabricated from lead or lead-alloy wool. The lead alloy may comprise zinc and antimony. The electroplating process plates zinc on the fine wires and may plate a zinc alloy such as zinc-aluminum. The plated surface may be coated with a corrosion resistant coating such as molybdenum phosphate. In addition to bullets and bullet cores, fishing weights, lead shielding, counterweights, ballast, and other lead containing structure may be fabricated or treated using methods and materials of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Joe G. Tom, Philip G. Malone, Charles A. Weiss, Jr., Steven L. Larson
  • Patent number: 6902827
    Abstract: A process for electrodepositing a low stress nickel-manganese multilayer alloy on an electrically conductive substrate is provided. The process includes the steps of immersing the substrate in an electrodeposition solution containing a nickel salt and a manganese salt and repeatedly passing an electric current through an immersed surface of the substrate. The electric current is alternately pulsed for predetermined durations between a first electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and a second electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and manganese. A multilayered alloy having adjacent layers of nickel and a nickel-manganese alloy on the immersed surface of the substrate is thereby produced. The resulting multilayered alloy exhibits low internal stress, high strength and ductility, and high strength retention upon exposure to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventors: James John Kelly, Steven Howard Goods, Nancy Yuan-Chi Yang, Charles Henry Cadden
  • Patent number: 6893738
    Abstract: An electrodeposited copper foil to be laminated on an insulation substrate for a printed circuit board, comprising a barrier layer of ternary alloy of Zn—Co—As formed on the copper foil, is provided. Further, a surface treatment method of an electrodeposited copper foil for a printed circuit board, comprising electrolytically treating the copper foil in an electrolytic solution containing pyrophosphoric acid potassium of about 10 g/l to about 200 g/l, Zn of about 0.1 g/l to about 20 g/l, Co of about 0.1 g/l to about 20 g/l and As of about 0.05 g/l to about 5 g/l, is provided. Further, the electrolytic solution remains at the temperature of about 20° C. to about 50° C. and a pH of about 9 to about 13. The copper foil is electrolytically treated for about 2 seconds to about 20 seconds at a cathode current density of about 0.5 A/dm2 to about 20 A/dm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: LG Cable Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Kyum Kim, Chang-Hee Choi