Technical Field This invention relates to a composition for use in the plating of metals on a substrate by application of mechanical forces to participate malleable metals and mixtures and alloys thereof, typically termed "mechanical pla ing".

Background Art It has been known in the art to plate metals upon a substrate, usually itself metal , by applying to plating metals, in particulate form, mechanical forces sufficient to produce such a close association of the plating metal particles and the surface of the article to be plated that adhesion occurs between the article surface and the plating metal particles. To produce the mechanical forces necessary to provide such adhesion, typically the plating metal particles, a solid impacting media and materials which have been found to be effective in the promoting of such plating are placed in a ball mill or tumbling barrel and rotated together. In this, manner, the kinetic energy of the moving impacting media is transferred to the plating metal particles in a fashion such that these particles are hammered or pounded by the impacting media onto the surfaces of the articles to be plated.

The initial work in this field of mechanical plating, as described above, has been undertaken by Clayton and Pottberg, such work being discussed in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,640,001; 2,640,002; Re. 23,861; 2,689,808; 2,723,204, etc. Typically, the aforementioned processes are undertaken in the presence of a liquid, and the agitated conglomerate or slurry contains what are commonly referred to as "promoter chemicals". Such promoter chemicals typically comprise unsaturated fatty acids and the like, film-forming materials and surfactants.

Further patents, such as U.S. Patent 3,460,97 discuss the use of other promoter chemicals for effectu ting the mechanical plating discussed above. In U.S. Patent No. 3,328,197, there is taught a further itnprove ent wherein the promoter chemical is provided in a soli cake or bar which contains a predetermined desirable combination of mechanical plating promoter chemicals. the mechanical plating cycle progresses, the bar or cak dissolves at a rate which provides sufficient promoter chemical to optimize the mechanical plating process..

In U.S. Patent 3,268,356 there is disclosed another refinement or improvement, wherein the promoter chemical and/or the plating metal particles are added t the plating barrel incrementally in successive addition which is taught to optimize the density and uniformity 1 ^" .h n p1 nti nη nvor tho on I:i r ';u r fn c. r- of I.ho «ι rI. i c.1 c I»< ^■ i π< pla ed.

A substantial breakthrough in mechanical plati is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,531,315, where it is dis- closed that a composition containing a strong acid coul be utilized during the mechanical plating process, ther eliminating a costly and time consuming rinsing step whi had been necessary prior to that discovery. In essence, the strong acid employed for cleaning and scale removal the articles to be plated was also utilized during the mechanical plating process without necessity of an inte vening rinsing step..

Gradually, it became desirable to increase the thickness of mechanically applied metallic coatings, e.g up to from about 1.5 to 3.0 mils. . During the developme of such heavy coatings, it was found that the teachings of Patent No. 3,268,356 were applicable in that increme additions of metal powder enhanced the adhesion of plat deposits. Therefore, the commonly utilized citric acid based chemistry, such as, for example, is discussed in Patent No. 3,328,197, was amenable for use therewith. operating pH of about 3.0 to 3.5 with this chemistry is less aggressive upon the metal powder, and also, the pr moter chemicals could be introduced in bar form which

slowly disintegrated during the process, thereby releasing the chemicals gradually as plating progressed. However, the relative high cost of organic acids and their salts, together with their known tendency to complex heavy metal . on to preclude or hamper effective effluent treatment made their use less than desirable economically.

Even though this system would function to pro¬ vide heavy coatings on articles, it was therefore still desirable to optimize processing time in accordance with the teachings of Patent No. 3,531,315, i.e., wherein a separate cleaning and rinsing step could be eliminated. However, the commercially available chemistry normally utilized with the process of the patent is not amenable to incremental metallic powder additions, as was the citric acid-based system, because the operating pH of this system, being in the range of 0.5 to 1.5, is typically too .irμjrαr;: i vc upon the inet.al powder. Furthermore, In thii latter process, promoter chemicals are typically introduced in powder form at the start of the plating cycle with no intervening additions during the process. Typically, therefore, during a plating cycle utilizing this promoter chemistry in conjunction with incremental metallic powder ^• additions, the metallic coating may not be deposited in a controlled fashion since the proper chemical environment would not be continually present during the entire plating cycle. Consequently, the conditions necessary to apply successive layers of well consol dated, adherent particles could not be uniformly maintained.

While it has been desirable to utilize the pro- cessing techniques of Patent No. 3,531,315 because such are typically based on a non-chelati ng and more economical acid system, such has not heretofore been available for the production of heavy, dense coatings. ^" However, I have now found a chemical composition system which is more amenable to utilization with incremental metal powder additions during the mechanical plating of heavy, dense coatings. The system is utilized at the initiation of the plating sycle as well as during the plating cycle by incremental addition in conunction with the metal powder.

Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the invention there is provided a chemical promoter system capable of being use in conjunction with finely divided mechanical plating metal, water, and impact media in a mechanical plating process to provide heavy dense metallic coatings on arti The promoter system comprises a flash promoter which comprises, per 100 square feet of plating surface area, up to about 400 grams oF a strong acid or salt thereof, from about 20 to about 80 grams of a soluble salt of a metal which is more noble that the plating metal , an effective amount of a dispersant capable of dispersing the plating metal , and an effective amount of an inhibit capable of inhibiting corrosion of the plating metal , together with a continuing promoter which comprises, per pound of finely divided mechanical plating metal, from about 60 to about 150 grams of a strong acid or salt the fro about 5 to about 20 grams of a soluble salt of a meta which is more noble than the plating metal, an effective amount of a dispersant capable of dispersing the plating mi' I .i I , .I IKI ,ιπ el I ^' i'i: I. i vc .iiii uπl. nl .in in ibi tor ι..ι|ι.ιlι 11- of inhibiting corrosion of the plating metal.

The flash promoter, during the mechanical plati process, provides a thin adherent flash coating on the articles to be plated, following which the continuing promoter is incrementally added to the process in conjunc tion with incremental additions of the finely divided mechanical plating metal until a heavy dense metallic coating is built up on the articles to be plated.

Detailed Description

I have ascertained that it is extremely import to provide a proper chemical balance during the entire plating cycle in order to insure a proper pH to effectiv clean the finely divided mechanical plating metal and to provide an optimal environment for plating to occur. Ba on my experience, I devised a chemical promoter system which is extremely effective in the production of heavy dense metallic coatings. It is divided into two basic

promoter compositions, the first being referred to as the "flash promoter" and the second ^' being termed the "continuing promoter". The flash promoter is utilized to provide a thin adherent coating by gal vomechanical means, in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 3,400,012, as well as initial quantities of other plating components as here¬ inafter defined. Because this promoter's function is to provide this coating over the entire surface of the articles to be plated, same is added proportional to the surface area of the articles to be coated.

The continuing promoter's function is to provide a proper chemical environment for the mechanical plating process to occur. This includes a proper pH such that the surfaces of the finely divided mechanical plating metal is clean, but there is insubstantial dissolution of the metal in the plating solution, to prevent agglomera ion ol the finely divided metal to insure a proper plating rate and uniform coating thicknesses. Therefore, the concentration of components in this promoter is dependent upon the quantity of finely divided mechanical plating metal to be deposited .

During my initial experimentation to determine an effective promoter system, I observed that the adhesion of the mechanical plating immediately after cessation of the plating process was quite low, requiring minimal abrasive handling of the coating articles. After about seven days, however, the coatings became quite strong. In further experimentation conducted to reduce this time required for obtaining optimal coating strength, it was found that by heating the coating to an elevated temperature of from about 120°C to 175°C for from about 10 to 15 minutes, coating strengths similar to those obtained after seven days at room temperature resulted. However, I also ascertained that the mechanical plating lost adhesion when the aforementioned heating step was undertaken, resulting in flaking off of the coating. I ascertained that by including in the continuing promoter a soluble salt of a metal mo-re noble than the mechanical plating metal completely elimi¬ nated this lack of adhesion problem. The exact reason why

the inclusion of this soluble salt in the continuing promoter which is added incrementally in conjunction wit the finely divided plating metal is unknown, although it is assumed that an effect similar to that disclosed in U Patent No. 3,400,012 is obtained.

Exemplary soluble salts of metals more noble t the finely divided plating metal include cadmium, lead, and preferably, tin, e.g. , stannous chloride, stannous sulfate, stannous fluoborate, etc. In my flash promoter this salt should be included at a concentration level of from about 20 to about SO grams per 100 square feet of surface area to be plated, with about 30 grams being preferred. In my continuing promoter, the concentration ^• thereof should be- from about 5 to about 20 grams per pou of finely divided plating metal charged during the incre mental steps of the plating cycle, with about 10 grams being preferred. At low concentrations, a reduction of adhesion of the metallic plating, as aforementioned, is exhibited. The upper concentration limit is maintained terms of economics, as opposed to functionality, the cos thereof becoming excessive relative to additional benefi provided thereby.

The next component which is useful in this mechanical plating process is a strong acid or salt ther This acidity is typically utilized in the processing to remove metal oxides contained on the finely divided mechanical plating metal and the articles to be plated. Typical strong acid salts include potassium or ammonium bisulfate, sulfamic acid, etc. , with the preferred being sodium bisulfate. Relative to the flash promoter, the concentration of the acid salt or acid component can be included therein up to about 400 grams per 100 square fe of plating surface charged. In essence, one can choose derive all acidity relative to the flash promoter from surface conditioning chemicals which are conventionally used in the mechanical plating processes and which are strongly acidic. By use of same, one eliminates the aci carrier in the flash promoter.

In the continuing promoter, the acid salt or strong acid should be utilized in a range of from about 60 to about 150 grams per pound of finely divided plating metal charged to the plating operation. While an acid salt is preferred, because same can act as a carrier for the other components of the promoter chemistry, sulfuric acid or other strong acids can also be utilized to provide acidity, as necessary, as mechanical plating occurs.

The next component having utility in my invention is a dispersant, same being typically utilized to disperse the metal particles charged to the plating run to prevent their premature agglomeration.

Materials capable of functioning effectively for dispersing the plating metal powders include polyoxy- ethylene glycols having a cloud point in a 1 percent aqueous solution below 100°C, _. such as "Carbowax" 20M (available from the Union Carbide Chemicals Company), or "Polyql col E50,000" (nvnilnblo from thr Dow ChPinir.il Loiiφciny) ; quaternary aliphatic ammonium salts such as "Arquad" S-2C (available from the Armour Industrial Chemical Company; proteinaceous materials such as "Technical Protein Colloids" No. 185, 169, or 70 (available from Swift & Company); among other materials which are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,531,315.

Additives which function as dispersants are typically related to both the specific acid and the specific finely divided plating metal involved. For example, effective dispersants for zinc powder in sulfuric acid include "Carbowax" 20M and "Orzan" AH-3, which is a salt of a polymerized alkyl aryl sulfonic acid, commercially available from the Crown Zellerbach Company; dispersants for zinc or tin particles in hydrochloric acid include "Nalquat" G-8-11 (which is a hydrophilic heterocyclic adduct of a hydrophilic alkyl compound containing nitrogen groups, commercially available from Nalco Chemical Company). Many other examples could, of course, be cited.

Whether a given component will function satisfac¬ torily for dispersing specific plating metal particles in a specific acid can be determined by adding from about

0.25 to about 0.5 grams of the material to 250 illilite of the acid plating solution in a 400 mi 11 iliter beaker, adding 10 grams of finely divided plating metal , stirrin vigorously, and allowing the beaker and its contents to stand for 5 minutes. An effective dispersant will keep the plating metal in suspension, thereby rendering the acid plating solution opaque.

In the case of the preferred dispersant, that being "Carbowax" 20M, it has been found that the flash promoter can contain up to about 40 grams per 100- square feet of plating charge, with about 20 grams being preferr while the continuing promoter can contain up to about 8 grams per pound of metal powder charged with about 3.5 gr being preferred. The next component having utility in my inventi is an inhibitor, same being typically utilized to inhibit corrosion of the plating metal by the acidic component, thereby preventing undesirable gassing and allowing the plating metal to perform its intended function. In many instances, the inhibitor component is capable of functioning itself as a dispersant, and the aforementioned dispersant is not necessary. However, optimum benefits have been found to be achieved by utiliz a dispersant in conjunction with an inhibitor. Among materials capable of functioning as an effective means fo inhibiting the corrosion of at least some plating metal i at least some acid plating solutions are compounded catio amine inhibitors, such as "Ar ohib" 25 (available from th Armour Industrial Chemical Company); cationic inhibitors such as Inhibitor GC (.available from the Sinclair Mineral and Chemical Company); and other materials as are describ in U.S. Patent No. 3,531,315. A preferred inhibitor is designated Additive "R"*.

*Additive "R" is a product made as follows: to 23.4 gra of dehydroabietyl amine (Amine D, available from Hercules

Chemical Company) was slowly added 7.5 grams of acetophen with stirring; 10 grams of 20 Be HC1 solution in water wa added slowly in the same manner. Next, 9.7 grams of 37% formaldehyde was added in small increments and the mixtu refluxed intermittently at 80°C (continued on next page)

/,,

A test to ascertain the effective inhibitor τor a particular system can be undertaken utilizing the test indicated above relative to a dispersant. An effective corrosion inhibitor, utilizing this test, will essentially prevent both gassing and clumping of the plating metal powder into tough balls. As to the preferred inhibitor, Additive "R", up to about 12 grams per 100 square feet of plating charge can be included in the flash promoter, with about 8 grams being preferred, and up to about 1.0 gram per pound of plating metal charged, with- about 0.35 gram being preferred, has been found to provide satisfactory results in the continuing promoter.

The optimum amount of a given dispersant or inhibitor is, of course, related to the specific system in which it is used. In general , however, large volumes of liquid, open barrels, or highly acidic conditions, typically require more inhibitor than small volumes of liquid, closed barrels, or less acidic conditions. Similarly, the optimum concentration of dispersant decreases as the pH rises or as the weight of plating metal particles decreases.

In operation, the promoter chemistry as well as the plating metal additions are added at appropriate intervals during the plating cycle. The amount of plating metal added and the frequency of such additions are dependent upon the ultimate coating thickness desired and the size, weight, and geometry of the articles to be plated. Additionally, the ratio of articles to impact media, the size of the plating barrel , and rotational speed thereof can have an affect upon the number and frequency of such

*(continued) over a period of 3 days. At this point, 25.0 grams of acetone was added directly .and 9.5 grams of 37% formaldehyde added incrementally, continuing to reflux for an additional 24 hours. The solution was evaporated to leave a solid material , 0.82 gram of which was dissolved in 0.66 gram of a 70:15:15 isopropanol: acetone: methanol solvent. In 0.42 gram of water, 0.82 gram of nonionic polyoxyethylene adduct of nonyl phenol ("Tergitol" NP-35, available from Union Carbide Chemicals Company) was dissolved, and the two solutions mixed together.

addition. Typically, it has been determined that the initial chemistry be provided in the flash promoter wit subsequent chemical additions added as the continuing p moter along with the plating metal addition. The flash promoter is added to the plating mixture subsequent the preferred conventional deposition of copper on the artic to be plated. Then, a small amount of finely divided plating metal is introduced to provide a galvanomechanic deposit upon the articles, as is discussed in U.S. Paten No. 3,400,012.

After a sufficient period of time to allow the gal vanomechanical deposition, generally from about 3 to about 5 minutes, a sufficient quantity of plating metal to provide a predetermined thickness can be added to the plating mixture. The introduction rate of the metal pow to the plating mixture, which is again dependent upon th aforementioned factors, will typically be 1/30 of the to plating metal quantity required, with an addition being e ve ry 1 to 1.5 minutes. With each addition of metal , the appropriate quantity of continuing promoter is added simultaneously therewith.

After approximately ten such additions, the quantity of plating metal can be increased to about 1/12 the total amount thereof required, and each increment ca be added at approximately 3 to 4 minute intervals, again with the corresponding quantity of necessary chemistry. After about 8 such additions, the plating cycle can be continued for an additional 3 to 5 minutes at which time the plated articles can be rinsed, separated from the impact media and dried.

Generally, lighter part types to be plated require fewer additions, over longer time periods, while heavier part types require increased additions at more equent ntervals. My invention will now be more specifically described by the use of the following non-limiting examp wherein all parts are by weight unless otherwise specifi

Example 1 A 1,160 pound load of 3/4 by 2-1/2 inch bolts (232 square feet of plating surface) was precleaned in an inhibited sulfuric acid-based cleaner containing surfactants and placed in a 60 cubic foot multi-sided barrel having an angle of approximately 20° above horizontal rotating at 10 RPM's, together with an equal volume of glass beads of various sizes (4 parts 3.5 to 5 mesh, 2 parts 8-10 mesh, 1 part 14-30 mesh, and 1 part 40-70 mesh), the glass beads functioning as impact media. To the mixture, sufficient 24°C (.75°F) water was added such that a puddle was formed having a width of 6 to 12 inches while the barrel was rotating, thereby providing a free flowing mixture.

To this mixture, 1688 grams of an inhibited acid solution containing 99.7 parts 66° Be sulfuric acid and 0.3 parts Additive "R" were added and allowed to mix for 2 minutes. An additional 663 grams of a solution containing 43.9 parts 66° Be sulfuric acid, 23.1 parts cupric sulfate pentahydrate and 33.0 parts sodium chloride were added to the mixture to promote a uniform thin copper deposit upon the ferrous metal parts.

After five minutes, 304 grams of a mixture con¬ taining 55.9 parts sodium bisulfate, 15.1 parts Carbowax 20M, 23.0 parts stannous chloride, and 6.0 parts Additive "R" were added to the barrel. After dispersing for a period of two minutes, 142 grams of zinc powder having a mean particle size of 8 microns was added to the mixture to initiate a flash coating by gal vanomechanical means. After 5 minutes, 23 pounds of zinc powder having a mean particle size of 8 microns was added incrementally to the contents of the barrel , utilizing ten increments of 350 grams each, at 1.5 minute intervals following by eight zinc powder increments of 870 grams each at 3 minute intervals. Each increment was added together with the following mixture, based on the weight of zinc added:

Sodium Bisulfate 13.44 grams/100 grams of zinc Additive "R" 0.15 grams/100 grams of zinc Carbowax 20M 0.73 grams/100 grams of zinc Stannous Chloride 2.2 grams/100 grams of zinc Following completion of the plating cycle, the metallic coating was found to have a uniform thickness by magnetic thickness testing, good appearance and excellent adhesion by conventional tape peel testing. The thickness was from 2.4 to 2.6 mils (60 to 65μ).

Example 2

Example 1 was duplicated with the exception that the following mixture was added incrementally with the zinc powder:

Sodium Bisulfate 14.76 grams/100 grams of zinc Carbowax 20M 0.37 grams/100 grams of zinc

Stannous Chloride 1.48 grams/100 grams of zinc

The thickness was measured and determined to be from 2.9 to 3.1 mils (.72 to 78u).

Example 3 Example 1 was duplicated with the exception that the folloiwng mixture was utilized in incremental addition with the metallic zinc powder:

Sodium Bisulfate 29.52 grams/100 grams of zinc

Carbowax 20M 0.77 'grams/100 grams of zinc Stannous Chloride 2.95 grams/100 grams of zinc

The resultant coating exhibited excellent adhesio and uniform appearance. The thickness, as measured, was found to be 2.8 to 3.3 mils (70 to 82y).

Example 4 A precleaned, as in Example 1, 200 pound load of

3/4 by 2-1/2 inch bolts (40 square feet of plating surface) was placed in a 12 cubic foot multi-sided barrel having an angle of approximately 30° ^' above horizontal rotating at 12 RPM's, together with an equal volume of glass beads of various sizes, as in Example 1.

To the mixture, 301 grams of an inhibited acid solution containing 99.7 parts 66° Be sulfuric acid and 0.3 parts Additive "R" were added and allowed to mix for 2 minutes. Then 116 grams of a solution containing 43.9 parts 66° Be sulfuric acid, 23.1 parts cupric sulfate pentahydrate, and 33.0 parts sodium chloride were added to promote a thin uniform copper deposit on the articles to be plated. After 5 minutes, 57 grams of a mixture containing 64.9 parts sodium bisulfate, 5.3 parts Additive "ft", 1.8 parts Additive "A" and 28.0 parts stannous chloride were added to the barrel. After mixing for 2 minutes, 29 grams of zinc powder were added to initiate a thin flash coating.

After 5 minutes, 4.3 pounds of zinc powder was added incrementally to the contents of the barrel as follows: ten increments of 65 grams each at one minute intervals, then eight, increments of 163 grams each at 3 minute intervals. Each increment was added together with the following mixture based on the weight of zinc added; Sodium Bisulfate 31.94 grams/100 grams of zinc Additive "R" 0.15 grams/100 grams of zinc Stannous Chloride 1.1 grams/100 grams of zinc After deposition of the metal powder, the resultant coating was found to have a uniform appearance and excellent adhesion. The thickness as measured was 2.5 mils (62μ) .

Example 5 A precleaned, as in Example 1, 6 pound load of 5/16 by 3/4 inch bolts (500 square inches of plating surface) was placed in a 0.3 cubic foot open end multi- sided barrel having an angle of approximately 20° above horizontal rotating at 60 RPM's, together with an equal volume of glass beads of various sizes, as in Example 1. Then 24°C water was added to the mixture with 3.0 grams of an inhibited acid solution containing 99.7 parts 66°

Be sulfuric acid and O.3 part Additive "R" and allowed to mix for two minutes. To the barrel contents, 12.9 grams

of a mixture containing 43.9 parts 66° Be sulfuric aciα, 23.1 parts cupric sulfate pentahydrate, and 33.0 parts sodium chloride, were added to promote a copper deposit. After five minutes, 5.5 grams of a powder con- taining 56.4 parts sodium bisulfate, 5.4 parts Additive "R", 14.6 parts Carbowax 20M, and 23.6 parts cadmium sulfate were added to the barrel and allowed to mix for 2 minutes.

After mixing, 2 grams of zinc powder was added and mixed for 5 minutes to initiate and obtain a thin flash coating. Then 150 grams of zinc powder was added incrementally to the barrel, in ten 3 gram increments at one minute intervals, and eiqht 12.5 qram increments at 2.5 minute intervals. Each increment was added together with the following mixture based on the weiqht of zinc added:

Sodium Bisulfate 13.44 grams/100 grams of zinc Addition "R" 0.07 gram/100 grams of zinc Carbowax 20M 0.66 gram/100 grams of zinc Cadmium Sulfate 2.2 grams/100 grams of zinc After deposition of the metal powder, the resultant coating was found to be uniform in appearance and had excellent adhesion. The thickness was determined

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