U.S. patent application number 16/490139 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-09 for method for forming plating.
This patent application is currently assigned to Omron Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Omron Corporation. Invention is credited to Yuhei Fujioka, Ichizo Sakamoto, Masafumi Suzuki.
Application Number | 20200010971 16/490139 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63522051 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200010971 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sakamoto; Ichizo ; et
al. |
January 9, 2020 |
METHOD FOR FORMING PLATING
Abstract
A plating is formed on one side of a cathode by applying a paste
composed of particles mixed with a plating liquid to one side of
the cathode, disposing a liquid holding member impregnated with the
plating liquid on one side of an anode, opposing the cathode and
the anode face, and then bringing the liquid holding member and the
paste into contact with each other, and applying a voltage between
the cathode and the anode.
Inventors: |
Sakamoto; Ichizo; (Kyoto,
JP) ; Suzuki; Masafumi; (Kyoto, JP) ; Fujioka;
Yuhei; (Kyoto, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Omron Corporation |
Kyoto |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Omron Corporation
Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
63522051 |
Appl. No.: |
16/490139 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2017/044723 |
371 Date: |
August 30, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25D 17/00 20130101;
C25D 15/02 20130101; C25D 17/10 20130101; C25D 5/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C25D 5/02 20060101
C25D005/02; C25D 15/02 20060101 C25D015/02; C25D 17/10 20060101
C25D017/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 13, 2017 |
JP |
2017-047763 |
Claims
1. A method for forming a plating, the method forming a plating on
one side of a cathode by: applying, to the side of the cathode, a
paste obtained by mixing particles with a plating liquid; disposing
a liquid holding member impregnated with the plating liquid on one
side of an anode; opposing the cathode and the anode, and then
bringing the liquid holding member and the paste into contact with
each other; and applying a voltage between the cathode and the
anode, wherein the particles comprise either a metal or a
resin.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the paste is mixed with
a surfactant.
3. (canceled)
4. The method for forming a plating according to claim 1, wherein
the particles have a particle size of 0.02 .mu.m or more and 0.6
.mu.m or less.
5. The method for forming a plating according to claim 1, wherein
the particles are 10% by weight or more and 72% by weight or less
with respect to the paste.
6. The method for forming a plating according to claim 1, wherein
the liquid holding member is a sponge.
7. The method for forming a plating according to claim 2, wherein
the particles have a particle size of 0.02 .mu.m or more and 0.6
.mu.m or less.
8. The method for forming a plating according to claim 2, wherein
the particles are 10% by weight or more and 72% by weight or less
with respect to the paste.
9. The method for forming a plating according to claim 4, wherein
the particles are 10% by weight or more and 72% by weight or less
with respect to the paste.
10. The method for forming a plating according to claim 2, wherein
the liquid holding member is a sponge.
11. The method for forming a plating according to claim 4, wherein
the liquid holding member is a sponge.
12. The method for forming a plating according to claim 5, wherein
the liquid holding member is a sponge.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a
plating.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for forming a plating,
in such a way that for forming a plating film that has a fluorine
resin film of 5 .mu.m or less in film thickness, on an electroless
plating film or an electroless composite plating film, the fluorine
resin film is formed with the use of a solution of fluorine resin
particles dispersed in water with a cationic surfactant.
[0003] In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for
forming a plating, in such a way that with a cathode disposed at a
vertically lower position in a plating tank, dispersed particles
dispersed in a plating liquid are gradually precipitated toward the
cathode, and deposited on the cathode.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 2007-39711
[0005] Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 2016-141862
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] In the foregoing method for forming the plating, however,
the base material or the electrode is immersed in the plating
liquid contained in the plating tank in order to form the plating.
For this reason, the method has the problem of large-scale and
costly facility. In addition, it is necessary to maintain a large
amount of plating liquid and treat the waste liquid, which also
leads to an increase in cost.
[0007] In addition, in the latter method, the plating liquid may be
stirred in order to replenish the plating metal consumed near the
cathode, and the particles in the plating liquid will move, thereby
making it difficult to form a high-concentration plating film. In
addition, the configuration is significantly restricted, for
example, the cathode has to be placed horizontally.
[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method
for forming a plating, which is capable of forming a
high-concentration plating film with a simple and inexpensive
facility that uses a small amount of plating liquid.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0009] The present disclosure provides, as a means for solving the
foregoing problems, a method for forming a plating, which forms a
plating on one side of a cathode by:
[0010] applying, to the side of the cathode, a paste obtained by
mixing particles with a plating liquid;
[0011] disposing a liquid holding member impregnated with the
plating liquid on one side of an anode;
[0012] opposing the cathode and the anode, and then bringing the
liquid holding member and the paste into contact with each other;
and
[0013] applying a voltage between the cathode and the anode.
Effect of the Invention
[0014] According to the present disclosure, the liquid holding
member is disposed on one side of the anode, and the paste is
applied to one side of the cathode. Thus, a high-concentration
plating film can be formed inexpensively without requiring a
large-scale facility or a large amount of plating liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a plating forming
device according to the embodiment.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present
disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawing. It is to be noted that the following description is
essentially considered by way of example only, and not to be
considered intended to limit the present disclosure, applications
thereof, or intended uses thereof. In addition, the drawing is
considered schematic, and the ratios and the like between
respective dimensions are different from actual ones.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a plating forming device according to the
embodiment. This plating forming device is configured such that a
plate-shaped anode 1 and a plate-shaped cathode 2 are disposed to
cause the plate surfaces to face each other, and a liquid holding
member 3 impregnated with a plating liquid 6 is disposed on the
surface of the anode 1 opposed to the cathode 2, a paste 4 is
applied to the surface of the cathode 2 opposed to the anode to
bring the liquid holding member 3 and the paste 4 into contact with
each other.
[0018] For the anode 1, a flat plate made of a platinum insoluble
anode is used. Although the insoluble anode 1 is used as the anode
1 herein, a soluble material such as Ag, Au, Pd, Rh, Ni, or Cr can
also be used.
[0019] For the cathode 2, a flat plate made of a tough pitch copper
(C1100) cathode is used. The surface area of one side (that is, the
opposed surface) of the cathode 2 is larger than that of the anode
1.
[0020] A direct-current power supply 5 is connected between the
anode 1 and the cathode 2.
[0021] A urethane sponge is used for the liquid holding member 3.
The urethane sponge is flat in shape, has substantially the same
area as the cathode 2, and is opposed to the cathode 2. In this
case, the thickness of the liquid holding member 3 is adjusted to
10 mm or less. Thus, the current from the anode can be efficiently
transmitted. The liquid holding member 3 is impregnated with a
palladium-nickel plating liquid. However, the plating liquid 6 with
which the member can be impregnated is not limited thereto, and
various other plating liquids 6 such as an Ag plating liquid and an
Au plating liquid can be used depending on the intended use.
[0022] For the paste 4, the plating liquid 6 mixed with particles 7
is used. More specifically, the paste 4 contains, as main
components, the plating liquid 6 and the particles 7, which can be
applied to the surface of the cathode 2 which is the object,
maintains the applied shape even when a pressure is applied by a
brush after the application, and has conductivity. For the plating
liquid 6, the same liquid as that with which the liquid holding
member 3 is impregnated can be used, and a palladium-nickel plating
liquid is used herein. For the particles 7, a zinc oxide coated
with silica is used. As for the particle sizes of the particles 7,
the primary particle size is adjusted to 0.6 .mu.m or less. The
particle sizes of the particles 7 are adjusted to 0.6 .mu.m or less
in order to sufficiently increase the packing density of the
particles in the plating film.
[0023] However, the particles 7 are not limited to the zinc oxide,
and metal materials, synthetic resin materials such as fluorine
resins, nylon, and polyethylene, graphite, and compounds such as
graphite fluoride, molybdenum dioxide, and boron nitride may be
used. In this case, for example, the use of a fluorine resin can
impart wettability, in addition to the performance of conventional
metal plating films.
[0024] In addition, the paste 4, the plating liquid 6, and the
particles 7 are modified with a surfactant as a dispersion aid.
Surfactants that can be used include a cationic surfactant, an
amphoteric surfactant that exhibits a cationic property
corresponding to the pH of the plating liquid 6, and a nonionic
surfactant, for example. The use of the surfactant can improve the
wettability of the plating surface, prevent plating defects such as
non-plating and pits, and suppress the generation of mist from the
plating liquid 6.
[0025] In the plating forming device configured as described
previously, the liquid holding member 3 impregnated with the
plating liquid 6 is disposed on one side (that is, the opposite
surface) of the anode 1, and the paste 4 is applied to one surface
(that is, the opposed surface) of the cathode 2. The paste 4 is
applied by a dispenser, a squeegee or the like, and the thickness
is adjusted to 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The current from the anode can be
efficiently transmitted to the cathode 2 by setting the thickness
of the paste 4 as just described.
[0026] Then, the anode 1 and the cathode 2 are disposed to be
opposed to each other, and the liquid holding member 3 and the
paste 4 are brought into surface contact with each other. In this
case, the anode 1 and the cathode 2 may be opposed in the vertical
direction, or may be opposed in other directions such as in the
horizontal direction.
[0027] In this condition, the anode 1 and the cathode 2 are brought
close to each other to pressurize the liquid holding member 3 and
the paste 4. In addition, the anode 1 is vibrated to shake the
paste 4 through the liquid holding member 3. Thus, the particles 7
in the paste 4 can be aggregated. Then, when a voltage is applied
between the anode 1 and the cathode 2, a plating film is formed on
the surface of the cathode 2. More specifically, the metal ions in
the plating liquid 6 included in the paste 4 are reduced on the
surface of the cathode 2, and the plating film is formed while
taking the particles 7 in the paste 4 in by the current flow. In
this case, the plating film formed has, in addition to the property
of the metal in the plating liquid 6, a property derived from the
incorporated particles 7, and has a feature as a composite plating
film.
[0028] As just described, the paste 4 is applied to the cathode 2,
whereas the liquid holding member 3 on the anode 1 is impregnated
with the plating liquid 6, and the following advantages can be thus
provided.
[0029] (1) Since the plating liquid 6 is included only in the paste
4 and the liquid holding member 3, the usage of the plating liquid
6 can be significantly reduced as compared with a conventional case
of storing the plating liquid 6 in a plating tank. For this reason,
the use of a large-scale facility is eliminated, and the
maintenance of the plating liquid 6 and the waste liquid treatment
can also be simplified.
[0030] (2) The plating liquid 6 mixed with the particles 7 is used
for the paste 4, thus making it possible to form a
high-concentration plating film.
[0031] (3) The plating film formed can also produce the effect
achieved by the particles 7, in addition to the effect achieved by
the composition of the plating liquid 6. For example, the
combination of fluorine resin particles with a Ni plating that has
high hardness can produce the effects of high wear resistance and
low rolling resistance, and the combination can be thus used for
machine sliders and bearings. In addition, the combination of metal
material (for example, zinc oxide) particles that are low in
sublimation temperature with an Ag plating that has a low electric
resistance value is low in electric resistance, and capable of
cooling and then extinguishing generated arc, and the combination
can be thus used for electric contacts. The combination of fluorine
resin particles with a Ni plating that has high hardness is high in
abrasion resistance, and thus capable of decreasing the sliding
resistance, and when the combination is used for a mold, excellent
releasability can be achieved.
Example
[0032] An experiment of forming a plating film was conducted under
the following conditions.
[0033] More specifically, a platinum insoluble anode, tough pitch
copper (C1100), a urethane sponge, a commercially available Pd--Ni
(palladium-nickel) plating liquid, and silica-coated zinc oxide
were respectively used for the anode 1, the cathode 2, the liquid
holding member 3, the plating liquid 6, and the particles 7.
Further, as listed in Table 1 below, the plating liquid 6 for use
in the paste 4 was 10 ml. Further, for the particles 7 to be mixed
with the plating liquid 6, two types were prepared for 35 nm (0.035
.mu.m) and 20 nm (0.02 .mu.m) in terms of primary particle size,
and four types were prepared in terms of weight in the range of 1.5
g to 8.5 g. The plating time was adjusted to any of 5, 10, and 15
minutes, and the current density between the anode 1 and the
cathode 2 was adjusted to 5 to 25 A/dm.sup.2.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Paste Current Composite plating Film Primary
density Plating time particle thickness Plating liquid particle
size Particle (A/dm2) (min) concentration (%) (.mu.m) 10 ml 35 nm
1.5 g 25 5 13% 1.8 2.5 g 25 5 16% 1.8 4.5 g 25 5 27% 1.8 8.5 g 12.5
5 41% 1 5 1.8 37.5 3.5 10 7.7 15 10.4 20 nm 2.5 g 25 5 58% 1.8 4.5
g 25 5 72% 1.8
[0034] As is clear from Table 1, the reduced primary particle sizes
of the particles and the increased weight contained have
successfully increased the composite plating particle concentration
of the plating film formed. Moreover, the increased current density
has successfully increased the film thickness of the plating film
obtained.
[0035] While the various embodiments of the present disclosure have
been described in detail with reference to the drawing, various
aspects of the present disclosure will be finally described. It is
to be noted that the following description will be, by way of
example, described with reference symbols also attached.
[0036] The method for forming a plating according to a first aspect
of the present disclosure forms a plating on one side of the
cathode 2 by:
[0037] applying, to the side of the cathode 2, a paste 4 obtained
by mixing the particles 7 with the plating liquid 6;
[0038] disposing the liquid holding member 3 impregnated with the
plating liquid 6 on one side of the anode 1;
[0039] opposing the cathode 2 and the anode 1, and then bringing
the liquid holding member 3 and the paste 4 into contact with each
other; and
[0040] applying a voltage between the cathode 2 and the anode
1.
[0041] The method for forming a plating according to the first
aspect can form a plating film just by disposing the liquid holding
member 3 on one side of the anode 1 and applying the paste 4 on one
side of the cathode 2. Thus, the plating film can be formed
inexpensively without requiring a large-scale facility or a large
amount of plating liquid 6.
[0042] In the method for forming a plating according to a second
aspect of the present disclosure, the paste 4 is mixed with a
surfactant.
[0043] The method for forming a plating according to the second
aspect can improve the wettability of the plating surface, prevent
plating defects such as non-plating and pits, and suppress the
generation of mist from the plating liquid 6.
[0044] In the method for forming a plating according to a third
aspect of the present disclosure, the particles 7 are composed of
either a metal or a resin.
[0045] In the method forming a plating according to a fourth aspect
of the present disclosure, the particles 7 have a particle size of
0.02 .mu.m or more and 0.6 .mu.m or less.
[0046] The method for forming a plating according to the fourth
aspect achieves an effect of current flowing around into the
particles, and thus flowing efficiently, because the particle sizes
of the particles 7 are adapted to fall within the range of 0.02
.mu.m or more and 0.6 .mu.m or less.
[0047] In the method for forming a plating according to a fifth
aspect of the present disclosure, the particles 7 are 10% by weight
or more and 72% by weight or less with respect to the paste 4.
[0048] The method for forming a plating according to the fifth
aspect can provide the paste 4 containing the particles 7 at a high
concentration, thus allowing a high-concentration plating film to
be formed.
[0049] In the method for forming a plating according to a sixth
aspect of the present disclosure, a sponge is used as the liquid
holding member 3.
[0050] It is to be noted that some embodiments or modifications of
the foregoing various embodiments or modification examples are
appropriately combined, thereby making it possible to achieve the
effects of the respective embodiments or modification examples.
Further, it is possible to combine the embodiments with each other,
combine the examples with each other, or combine the embodiments
with the examples, and it is also possible to combine the features
in the different embodiments or examples.
[0051] While the present disclosure is fully described in
connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the
accompanying drawing, various changes and modifications will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and
modifications should be understood as included in the disclosure,
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set
forth in the appended claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0052] The method for forming a plating according to the present
disclosure can be used for forming a plating film on the surfaces
of various materials such as machine sliders, electric contacts,
and mold surfaces.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
[0053] 1 anode [0054] 2 cathode [0055] 3 liquid holding member
[0056] 4 paste [0057] 5 direct-current power supply [0058] 6
plating liquid [0059] 7 particle
* * * * *