| abstract |
Polyethyleneimines, derived from the polymerization of ethylene imines, substituted ethylene imines, or derived from the addition of ethylene imine to organic or inorganic molecules, are incorporated into gold and gold alloy plating baths as agents for the general improvement of the brightness of the electroplate and other physical properties of both the deposit obtained in the electroplating from such baths and of the operating conditions of the baths. The operating characteristics of the aqueous electroplating baths such as the maximum current density, the cathode current efficiency, the width of the pH range etc. are vastly improved over conventional plating baths. Furthermore, the incorporation of these polyethylene imines also results in minimizing the stress of the electrodeposit and in minimizing the variation of the stress with current density. |