Electroless Deposition

Abstract

Over the past 15 years, several legislative regulations have been implemented that have impacted the evolution of electroless technology and the chemistry platforms utilized across many industries. In year 2000, as a result of the implementation of End of Life Vehicle (ELV) 2000/53/EC Annex II and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) 2002/95/EC regulatory introductions, specifically the electroless nickel-phosphorus technology (ENP) that had existed since the 1960s, required redevelopment to meet these demands if these coatings were to remain a viable option in the marketplace.Specific for electroless chemistry systems, these regulatory initiatives impacted the utilization of lead stabilizers and cadmium brighteners by restricting their use. Since this time, the surface finishing industry suppliers of these technologies entered a phase of reinvention for their replacement. To date, this technology rework has afforded many of the chemical suppliers and the industry educators, who focused on this chemistry, an opportunity to improve the technology through rejuvenated research and development (R&D) programs and investment for the technology. During this redevelopment period, technology suppliers providing electroless systems have been able to demonstrate many advances in replacing the original 60-year-old technology platforms where lead and cadmium were utilized as primary stabilizers and brightener species for meeting various applications in the automotive, aerospace, electronics, and industrial sectors. As a result of new investment and the success of R&D programs, this author believes the industry has reached a new platform of electroless technology development and the performance of these newer systems has surpassed ENP developed prior to 2009. Over the past several years, the technology has evolved to a fifth generation phase of development and will continue to move forward with release of improved performance systems (1). This evolution of the technology can be summarized in the following EN revolutionary historical perspective: $1955-1960 Kanigen: 7-10% P, difficult to operate, general-purpose EN, no longer a laboratory curiosity.