Patent ID: 7442286

Claim:
An electroplating bath for depositing a zinc-nickel ternary or higher alloy, comprising: a) zinc ions, wherein the zinc ions are present in the bath as one or more of ZnO, Zn(OH) 2 , Zn(Cl) 2 , ZnSO 4 , ZnCO 3 , Zn(SO 3 NH 2 ) 2 , Zn(OOCCH 3 ) 2 , Zn(BF 4 ) 2 and zinc methane sulfonate; b) nickel ions, wherein the nickel ions are present in the bath as one or more of NiSO 4 , NiSO 4 .6H 2 O, NiCO 3 , Ni(SO 3 NH 2 ) 2 , Ni(OOCCH 3 ) 2 , (NH 2 ) 2 Ni(SO 4 ) 2 , Ni(OOCH) 2 , a Ni complex, Ni(BF 4 ) 2 and nickel methane sulfonate; c) from about 0.01 g/dm 3 to about 10 g/dm 3 of one or more ionic species selected from ions of Te +4 , Bi +3 and Sb +3 , with the proviso that when the ionic species comprises Te +4 , the bath further comprises one or more additional ionic species selected from ions of Bi +3 , Sb +3 , Ag +1 , Cd +2 , Co +2 , Cr +3 , Cu +2 , Fe +2 , In +3 , Mn +2 , Mo +6 , P +3 , Sn +2 and W +6 ; and d) one or more non-ionogenic surface active polyoxyalkylene compound, and further comprising ethylenediamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives; propylenediamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives; diethylenetriamine or its methyl-substituted derivatives; or a polymer of an aliphatic amine.