Plating bronze on polymer sheets

• Main Authors: Nesmith, Gene B, Yu, Steven Y, Hebert, Larry S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.04.2022
• Subjects: ALLOYS; APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ELECTROFORMING; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; METALLURGY; PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTIONOF COATINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

An electroplated article is provided comprising a polymeric substrate bearing an electroplated metal layer comprising copper and tin in an atomic ratio of less than 96:4, in some embodiments less than 87:13 and in some embodiments less than 82:18; wherein the atomic ratio of copper to tin is greater than 55:45, and wherein the electroplated metal layer comprises at least 3.5 weight % tin. The electroplated metal layer comprises an alloy having a melting point of less than 1050° C. and in some cases less than 800° C. The electroplated metal layer has a Young's Modulus of less than 15.0 GPa, in some embodiments less than 13.0 GPa, and in some less than 10.0 GPa. In addition, an electroplating solution is provided comprising Cu(II) ions, Sn (II) ions, Zn(II) ions, 1-methionine, and no cyanide anion.