Self-catalytic bath and method for the deposition of a nickel-phosphorus alloy on a substrate

A method for continuously depositing a Ni—P alloy on a substrate comprising:

• cleaning the substrate surface to remove any oxide on the substrate surface,
• immersing the substrate in a bath formed from equal portions of a first solution and a second solution,
• regenerating the bath with a regenerating solution,
• adjusting the pH of the bath with a fourth solution, wherein,
• the first solution comprises nickel sulfate, sodium tricitrate as a complexing agent, and concentrated acetic acid as a buffer,
• the second solution comprises sodium hypophosphite, sodium gluconate as a catalyst and a stabilizer, and traces of lead as a stabilizer,
• the regenerating solution comprises nickel sulfate, sodium tricitrate and sodium hypophosphite, and
• the fourth solution is dilute ammonia.