Bright nickel-iron alloy electroplating bath and process

摘要

An aqueous bath and process suitable for the electrodeposition of bright, high-leveling nickel-iron alloy deposits on a conductive substrate comprising controlled, effective amounts of nickel ions, iron ions, an iron solubilizing agent, a buffering agent, a primary brightening agent, hydrogen ions to provide a pH of about 2.6 to 4.5 and at least one bath soluble additive agent present in an amount of at least about 2 mg/l, selected from propargyl sulfonic acid, 1-butyne-3-sulfonic acid, 1-pentyne-5-sulfonic acid, 2-butyne-1-sulfonic acid and the alkali metal and ammonium salts thereof. A particularly preferred additive agent comprises propargyl sulfonic acid and the alkali metal and ammonium salts thereof. The invention further contemplates the use of the aforementioned additive agent as a replenishing agent for nickel-iron electroplating solutions and as a rejuvenating agent for restoring the activity and capacity of such aqueous baths to deposit bright, high-leveling nickel- iron alloy deposits.