Patent ID: 6933177

Claim:
A method for fabricating a leadframe comprising the steps of: providing an aluminum leadframe having a mount pad for an integrated circuit chip and a plurality of lead segments; cleaning said leadframe in an alkaline solution; activating said leadframe surfaces by immersing said leadframe into an acid solution; immersing said activated leadframe into a zincate plating solution, thereby dissolving any aluminum oxide and forming a zinc layer; immersing said leadframe into an electroless nickel plating solution and depositing a first layer of nickel onto said zinc layer; electroplating a layer comprising an alloy of nickel and a noble metal; electroplating a second layer of nickel, thereby adapting said lead segments for mechanical bending; and electroplating a layer of a noble metal, thereby adapting said lead segments for solder attachment to other parts and for corrosion protection.