| abstract |
An aqueous coating bath composition for the non-electrolytic deposition of nickel and nickel alloys, the coating bath comprising: (i) a source of nickel ions, (ii) at least one complexing agent selected from the group consisting of amines , carboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, aminocarboxylic acids and salts of the aforementioned compounds, (iii) at least one reducing agent selected from hypophosphite, amine-borane, borohydride, hydrazine and formaldehyde, (iv) a stabilizing agent according to formula (1 ): where X is selected from O and NR4, n varies from 1 to 6, m varies from 1 to 8; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen and C1 to C4 alkyl; Y is selected from -SO3R5, -CO2R5 and -PO3R5 2, and R5 is selected from hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl and a suitable counterion, and wherein the concentration of the stabilizing agent according to formula (1) ranges between 0.02 and 5.0 mmol / l. |