METHOD FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL PLATING AND MARKING OF METALS

• US 20090242410A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenaris Connections AG
• Original Assignee: Tenaris Connections AG
• Inventors: CASTRO, Pablo Adrian, WILLIAMS, Federico Jose
• Granted Patent: US 8,257,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/118
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 3/12 of nickel or cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/022 using masking means
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/06 Brush or pad plating
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/36 of iron or steel
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 7/0614 Strips or foils

Abstract

A method for the electrochemical plating or marking of metals includes providing a metal surface, providing an electroplating solution at the metal surface, and electroplating the metal surface with the electroplating solution. A top layer of the metal surface comprises an oxide scale. The method can also include masking a portion of the metal surface with a masking material. The electroplating solution can be provided at the metal surface by an electroplating brush, the oxide scale of the metal surface can be comprised primarily of magnetite and hematite, and the material comprising the metal surface can be steel.

Claims

1. A method for electroplating, the method comprising:

providing a metal surface,

providing an electroplating solution at the metal surface, and

electroplating the metal surface with the electroplating solution,

wherein a top layer of the metal surface comprises an oxide scale.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

masking a portion of the metal surface with a masking material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the masking material masks the portion of the metal surface in a predetermined pattern.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined pattern is a bar code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the masking material is applied to the metal surface by a thermal mask transfer system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the masking material is an adhesive tape.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electroplating solution is provided at the metal surface by an electroplating brush.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the Watts-type solution comprises:

NiSO4 in a concentration of 330-480 g/L;

NiCl2 in a concentration of 45-80 g/L;

boric acid in a concentration of 35-60 g/L; and

lauryl sulfate in a concentration of 0.2-0.5 g/L.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electroplating solution is heated to a temperature between 50°

C. and 85°

C.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a voltage between the metal surface and an anode is between 5.5 V and 2.5 V.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxide scale of the metal surface is comprised primarily of magnetite and hematite.

12. The method of claim 11, where a compositional percentage of magnetite is greater than a compositional percentage of hematite.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a material comprising the metal surface is a steel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a chemical composition of the steel comprises:

carbon in a surface weight percentage of 0.26-0.32;

manganese in a surface weight percentage of 0.41-1.04;

sulfur in a surface weight percentage of 0.003-0.004;

phosphorus in a surface weight percentage of 0.008-0.011;

silicon in a surface weight percentage of 0.19-0.38;

nickel in a surface weight percentage of 0.46-0.08;

chromium in a surface weight percentage of 0.19-1.11;

molybdenum in a surface weight percentage of 0.02-0.79;

vanadium in a surface weight percentage of 0.002-0.004;

copper in a surface weight percentage of 0.06-0.11;

tin in a surface weight percentage of 0.004-0.009;

aluminum in a surface weight percentage of 0.006-0.042;

titanium in a surface weight percentage of 0.003-0.012; and

an iron balance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the chemical composition further comprises 20-22 ppm of calcium.