Patent ID: 6902827

Claim:
A process for electroplating a layered nickel and nickel-manganese alloy onto a metal substrate comprising: (a) providing an electrolyte solution containing a nickel salt and a manganese salt; (b) providing a conductive substrate suitable for nickel and manganese electrodeposition; (c) immersing at least a portion of the substrate in the electrolyte solution; and (d) passing an electric current through the immersed surface of the substrate, the electric current being alternately pulsed for predetermined durations between a first electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and a second electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and manganese, thereby producing a multilayered alloy having adjacent layers of nickel and a nickel-manganese alloy on the immersed surface of the substrate, wherein the concentration of manganese in the electrolyte solution is lower than the concentration of nickel.