To improve uniformity of a plating film-thickness formed on a substrate.

A plating module 400 includes a plating tank 410 for housing a plating solution, a substrate holder 440 for holding a substrate Wf, an anode 430 housed within the plating tank 410, an anode mask 460 arranged between the substrate Wf held by the substrate holder 440 and the anode 430 and provided with an opening 466 in a center, and an ionically resistive element 450 arranged at an interval from the anode mask 460 between the substrate Wf held by the substrate holder 440 and the anode mask 460 and provided with a plurality of holes.

Method and apparatus are provided for electroplating a surface area of an internal wall defining a cooling cavity present in a gas turbine engine airfoil component.

Method and apparatus are provided for electroplating a surface area of an internal wall defining a cooling cavity present in a gas turbine engine airfoil component.

A method of electroplating a target electrode comprises establishing a first electric current through an electrolytic solution, comprising a quantity of an electrically charged material, an initial electrode, and a transitional electrode, so that a quantity of the electrically charged material is converted to a quantity of an electrically neutral material, which is electroplated, as a deposit, onto the transitional electrode; and establishing a second electric current through the electrolytic solution, the transitional electrode, and the target electrode so that a quantity of the electrically neutral material from the deposit is converted to a quantity of the electrically charged material, which is dissolved into the electrolytic solution, and a quantity of the electrically charged material in the electrolytic solution is converted to a quantity of the electrically neutral material, which is electroplated onto the surface of the target electrode.

There is provided a plating apparatus capable of suitably measuring a micro-throwing power. A first plating apparatus (1A) includes: a first anode (12A) disposed in a first plating bathtub (11A); an insulating substrate (4) having a hole (5) and disposed in the first plating bathtub (11A); a pair of first cathodes (13AX, 13AY), each cathode being provided in the insulating substrate (4) at a bottom portion of the hole (5) and at a surface on an opening side of the hole (5); a first plating power source (14A) configured to supply an electric current between the first anode (12) and the pair of first cathodes (13AX, 13AY); and a first electric current measuring circuit (22A) configured to measure respective values of electric currents flowing through the pair of first cathodes (13AX, 13AY).

There is provided a plating apparatus capable of suitably measuring a micro-throwing power. A first plating apparatus (1A) includes: a first anode (12A) disposed in a first plating bathtub (11A); an insulating substrate (4) having a hole (5) and disposed in the first plating bathtub (11A); a pair of first cathodes (13AX, 13AY), each cathode being provided in the insulating substrate (4) at a bottom portion of the hole (5) and at a surface on an opening side of the hole (5); a first plating power source (14A) configured to supply an electric current between the first anode (12) and the pair of first cathodes (13AX, 13AY); and a first electric current measuring circuit (22A) configured to measure respective values of electric currents flowing through the pair of first cathodes (13AX, 13AY).

The embodiments herein relate to apparatuses and methods for electroplating one or more materials onto a substrate. Embodiments herein utilize a cross flow conduit in the electroplating cell to divert flow of fluid from a region between a substrate and a channeled ionically resistive plate positioned near the substrate down to a level lower than level of fluid in a fluid containment unit for collecting overflow fluid from the plating system for recirculation. The cross flow conduit can include channels cut into components of the plating cell to allow diverted flow, or can include an attachable diversion device mountable to an existing plating cell to divert flow downwards to the fluid containment unit. Embodiments also include a flow restrictor which may be a plate or a pressure relief valve for modulating flow of fluid in the cross flow conduit during plating.

A method of controlling chemical concentration in electrolyte includes measuring a chemical concentration in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is contained in a tank; and increasing a vapor flux through an exhaust pipe connected to the tank when the measured chemical concentration is lower than a control lower limit value.

Provided is a wetting method for substrate that allows reducing an amount of air bubbles attached to a surface to be plated with a simple structure.

The wetting method for substrate includes a holding step 102 of holding a back surface of a substrate with a back plate such that a surface to be plated of the substrate is opposed to a liquid surface of a plating solution housed in a plating tank, a supplying step 104 of supplying the plating solution to the plating tank such that the plating solution upwardly flows through a plurality of through-holes in a center part of an ionically resistive element arranged inside the plating tank to raise a center part of the liquid surface of the plating solution, a first lowering step 106 of lowering a supporting member for supporting an outer edge portion of the surface to be plated of the substrate held by the holding member toward the liquid surface of the plating solution, and a second lowering step 108 of lowering the holding member such that the substrate is sandwiched by the supporting member lowered in the first lowering step 106 and the holding member while the center part of the liquid surface of the plating solution is raised in the supplying step 104.

Provided is a wetting method for substrate that allows reducing an amount of air bubbles attached to a surface to be plated with a simple structure.

The wetting method for substrate includes a holding step 102 of holding a back surface of a substrate with a back plate such that a surface to be plated of the substrate is opposed to a liquid surface of a plating solution housed in a plating tank, a supplying step 104 of supplying the plating solution to the plating tank such that the plating solution upwardly flows through a plurality of through-holes in a center part of an ionically resistive element arranged inside the plating tank to raise a center part of the liquid surface of the plating solution, a first lowering step 106 of lowering a supporting member for supporting an outer edge portion of the surface to be plated of the substrate held by the holding member toward the liquid surface of the plating solution, and a second lowering step 108 of lowering the holding member such that the substrate is sandwiched by the supporting member lowered in the first lowering step 106 and the holding member while the center part of the liquid surface of the plating solution is raised in the supplying step 104.