Articles with electroplated zinc-nickel ternary and higher alloys, electroplating baths, processes and systems for electroplating such alloys

An electroplating bath for depositing a zinc-nickel ternary or higher alloy, comprising:

• a) zinc ions, wherein the zinc ions are present in the bath as one or more of ZnO, Zn(OH)2, Zn(Cl)2, ZnSO4, ZnCO3, Zn(SO3NH2)2, Zn(OOCCH3)2, Zn (BF4)2 and zinc methane sulfonate;
• b) nickel ions, wherein the nickel ions are present in the bath as one or more of NiSO4, NiSO4.6H2O, NiCO3, Ni(SO3NH2)2, Ni(OOCCH3)2, (NH2)2Ni(SO4)2, Ni(OOCH)2, a Ni complex, Ni(BF4)2 and nickel methane sulfonate;
• c) from about 0.01 g/dm3 to about 10 g/dm3 of one or more ionic species selected from ions of Te+4, Bi+3 and Sb+3, and
• d) one or more non-ionogenic surface active polyoxyalkylene compound, with the proviso that when the ionic species comprises Te+4, the bath is free of a mixture of brighteners comprising both (i) reaction product of epihalohydrin with an alkylene amine, and (ii) aromatic aldehydes,
• and further comprising ethylenediamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives;
• propylenediamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives;
• diethylenetriamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives;
• or a polymer of an aliphatic amine.

An electroplating bath for depositing a zinc-nickel quaternary or higher alloy, comprising:

• a) zinc ions, wherein the zinc ions are present in the bath as one or more of ZnO, Zn(OH)2, Zn(Cl)2, ZnSO4, ZnCO3, Zn(SO3NH2)2, Zn(OOCCH3)2, Zn(BF4)2 and zinc methane sulfonate;
• b) nickel ions, wherein the nickel ions are present in the bath as one or more of NiSO4, NiSO4.6H2O, NiCO3, Ni(SO3NH2)2, Ni(OOCCH3)2, (NH2)2Ni(SO4)2, Ni(OOCH)2, a Ni complex, Ni(BF4)2 and nickel methane sulfonate;
• c) one or more ionic species selected from ions of Te+4, Bi+3 and Sb+3;
• d) one or more ionic species selected from ions of Ag+1, Cd+2, Co+2, Cr+3, Cu+2Fe+2, In+3, Mn+2, Mo+6, P+3, Sn+2 and W+6;
• and
• e) one or more non-ionogenic surface active polyoxyalkylene compound,
• and further comprising ethylenediamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives;
• propylenediamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives;
• diethylenetriamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives;
• or a polymer of an aliphatic amine.