| abstract |
An alloy of 0.001-0.30 weight percent nickel, the balance being essentially tin. The alloy provides a brightness, smoothness, solderability and electrical conductivity comparable to gold and is electrodeposited from an aqueous bath containing nickel sulfate, nickel fluoborate, nickel sulfamate, stannous sulfate or stannous fluoborate, benzene sulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, fluoboric acid or sulfamic acid providing a pH not higher than 1, and a brightener. The concentration of the tin salt in the bath is at least about 1 oz./gal. and the weight ratio of the nickel salt to the tin salt is at least 0.20 to 1. Substrates which may be coated with the alloy include iron, nickel, silver and copper, alloys of copper, and aluminum or zinc coated with nickel, silver or copper, or any combinations thereof. |