Commercial nickel phosphorus electroplating

A method of electrolytically plating a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy on a substrate, utilizing a bath which includes phosphorous and/or phosphoric acid, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing a substrate as a cathode in the bath;
• (b) immersing an anode in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical potential across the anode and cathode so as to effect electrodeposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy on the substrate, while retaining the anode current density high enough so as to maintain the free acid concentration in the bath in an acid titer range of about 9-14.

A method of forming an electrical contact, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing an electrically conductive substrate in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical power across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of the electrical contact, to produce an electrical contact having a contact resistance soon after production of less than 4 milliohms, and which is adapted to make or break contact with another electrical contact to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit.

A method of forming a piece of cutlery having a cutting edge, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing the cutlery piece in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the cutlery piece acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical power across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of the cutlery piece.

A method of forming a coated aluminum article having enhanced properties and suitable for use in place of a like non-coated aluminum article, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing the aluminum article in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the aluminum article acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical power across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of the aluminum article.

A method of making an item of cookware, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing a substrate formed in the shape of an item of cookware and of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, copper, iron, and cast iron, in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of an item of cookware.

A method of forming a piece of marine hardware, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing a metal substrate having the shape of a piece of marine hardware in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical power across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the substrate, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of the material.

A method of forming coated plastic objects, comprising the steps of:

• (a) treating a plastic substrate so that it has sensitized surfaces;
• (a1) striking the sensitized surfaces with an electroless metal to provide a conductive layer on the surfaces;
• (b) immersing the sensitized plastic substrate in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (c) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (d) applying an electrical power across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the substrate, so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of the material.

A method of forming a fluid jet orifice plate, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing the orifice plate in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the orifice plate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of the orifice plate.

A method of forming jewelry, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing a substrate formed in the shape of a piece of jewelry in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of an item of jewelry.

A method of forming a computer memory disc, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing a substrate formed in the shape of a piece of computer memory disc in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of a computer memory disc.

A method of forming a wearable part, comprising the steps of:

• (a) immersing a substrate formed in the shape of a wearable part in an electrolytic bath including nickel and/or cobalt, and phosphorous acid, with the substrate acting as the cathode in the bath;
• (b) providing an anode immersed in the bath;
• and
• (c) applying an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode sufficient to effect electrolytic deposition of a nickel and/or cobalt phosphorus alloy, in amorphous form, on the cathode, and so that the bath has sufficient life to provide commercially feasible plating of a wearable part.