Patent ID: 9732433
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: C23C,C25D,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method for preparing a nanolaminate brass article comprising a conductive plastic or polymeric substrate and a nanolaminated brass coating, the method comprising: (a) providing a conductive plastic or polymeric substrate; (b) contacting at least a portion of the conductive plastic or polymeric substrate with an electrolyte containing metal ions of zinc and copper, and optionally containing additional metal ions, wherein said electrolyte is in contact with an anode; and (c) applying an electric current across the conductive plastic or polymeric substrate and the anode and varying in time one or more of: the amplitude of the electric current, the frequency of the electric current, the average electric current, the offset of an alternating current, the ratio of positive current and negative current, electrolyte temperature, electrolyte additive concentration, electrolyte agitation, or combinations thereof, in order to produce on at least a portion of the conductive plastic or polymeric substrate a nanolaminated brass coating having a desired thickness and comprising periodic layers of electrodeposited species and/or periodic layers of electrodeposited species microstructures; wherein at least two of said periodic layers each have thicknesses from about 2 nm to about 200 nm; and wherein said article has an ultimate tensile strength, flexural modulus, modulus of elasticity, and/or stiffness ratio that is greater than the ultimate tensile strength, flexural modulus, modulus of elasticity, and/or stiffness ratio of an identical conductive plastic or polymeric substrate upon which has been electrodeposited a homogenous brass coating having a thickness substantially equivalent to the desired thickness and wherein the homogenous brass coating has a composition substantially equivalent to the composition of said nanolaminated brass coating.