Method of inspecting a metal coating and a method for analytical control of a deposition electrolyte serving to deposit said metal coating

US8894835B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Atotech Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Philip Hartmann · Berlin, DE
• Michael Jonat · Falkensee, DE
• Mathias Wuensche · Panketal, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 26, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 25, 2014
• Expiry date: Feb 16, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C25D21/12
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

For fast and secure determination of the quality of a metal coating as well as of an electrolyte for depositing a metal, in particular for electrolytic deposition of nickel such as of semi-gloss nickel and bright nickel and for analytical control of the deposition electrolyte, a method of inspecting a metal coating is provided, which involves the following method steps: a) depositing the metal coating from a deposition electrolyte onto a working electrode; b) electrolytically dissolving the metal coating through anodic polarization of the working electrode with respect to a counter electrode, which is in electrolytic contact with the working electrode; c) recording an electrical dissolution potential at the working electrode over time, said potential occurring during a dissolution of the metal coating; and d) determining a time-averaged vale of the dissolution potential.