Durable seamless replication tools are disclosed for replication of seamless relief patterns in desired media, for example in optical recording or data storage media. Methods of making such durable replication tools are disclosed, including preparing a recording substrate on the inner surface of a support cylinder, recording and developing a relief pattern in the substrate, creating a durable negative relief replica of the pattern, extracting the resulting durable tool sleeve from a processing cell, and mounting the tool sleeve on a mounting fixture. Apparatus are disclosed for fabricating such seamless replication tools, including systems for recording a desired relief pattern on a photosensitive layer on an inner surface of a support cylinder. Also disclosed are electrodeposition cells for forming a durable tool sleeve having a desired relief pattern. The replication tool relief features may have critical dimensions down to the micron and nanometer regime.

Durable seamless replication tools are disclosed for replication of seamless relief patterns in desired media, for example in optical recording or data storage media. Methods of making such durable replication tools are disclosed, including preparing a recording substrate on the inner surface of a support cylinder, recording and developing a relief pattern in the substrate, creating a durable negative relief replica of the pattern, extracting the resulting durable tool sleeve from a processing cell, and mounting the tool sleeve on a mounting fixture. Apparatus are disclosed for fabricating such seamless replication tools, including systems for recording a desired relief pattern on a photosensitive layer on an inner surface of a support cylinder. Also disclosed are electrodeposition cells for forming a durable tool sleeve having a desired relief pattern. The replication tool relief features may have critical dimensions down to the micron and nanometer regime.

The invention relates to a method for the adjustment of the lightness L* of electrolytically deposited chromium-finishes on workpieces obtained by an electroplating bath comprising at least chromium(III)-ions and sulfur containing organic compounds, wherein the concentration of the sulfur containing organic compounds in the bath are adjusted by passing at least part of the bath composition through an activated carbon filter. Furthermore, the invention is directed to dark chrome coatings comprising a defined concentration gradient of deposited sulfur containing organic compounds.

The invention relates to a method for the adjustment of the lightness L* of electrolytically deposited chromium-finishes on workpieces obtained by an electroplating bath comprising at least chromium(III)-ions and sulfur containing organic compounds, wherein the concentration of the sulfur containing organic compounds in the bath are adjusted by passing at least part of the bath composition through an activated carbon filter. Furthermore, the invention is directed to dark chrome coatings comprising a defined concentration gradient of deposited sulfur containing organic compounds.

Provided is a copper-nickel alloy electroplating apparatus which is capable of stably forming a copper-nickel plated coating on a workpiece with a uniform composition and which enables a plating bath to be used for a long period. The present invention provides a copper-nickel alloy electroplating apparatus (1), comprising: a cathode chamber (4) in which a workpiece (5) is to be placed; an anode chamber (6); an anode (7) placed in the anode chamber; an electrically conductive diaphragm (14) placed to separate the cathode chamber and the anode chamber from each other; a cathode chamber oxidation-reduction potential adjusting tank (8) for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of a plating liquid in the cathode chamber; an anode chamber oxidation-reduction potential adjusting tank (10) for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of a plating liquid in the anode chamber; and a power supply unit (36) that provides an electric current to flow between the workpiece and the anode.

Provided is a copper-nickel alloy electroplating apparatus which is capable of stably forming a copper-nickel plated coating on a workpiece with a uniform composition and which enables a plating bath to be used for a long period. The present invention provides a copper-nickel alloy electroplating apparatus (1), comprising: a cathode chamber (4) in which a workpiece (5) is to be placed; an anode chamber (6); an anode (7) placed in the anode chamber; an electrically conductive diaphragm (14) placed to separate the cathode chamber and the anode chamber from each other; a cathode chamber oxidation-reduction potential adjusting tank (8) for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of a plating liquid in the cathode chamber; an anode chamber oxidation-reduction potential adjusting tank (10) for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential of a plating liquid in the anode chamber; and a power supply unit (36) that provides an electric current to flow between the workpiece and the anode.

There is disclosed an improved leak checking method which can accurately test a sealing performance of a substrate holder more than conventional leak check techniques. The leak checking method includes: holding a substrate with a substrate holder, the substrate holder including a first holding member and a second holding member, the second holding member having an opening through which a surface of the substrate is exposed; pressing a sealing projection of the second holding member against the surface of the substrate when holding the substrate with the substrate holder; covering the surface of the substrate, exposed through the opening, and the sealing projection with a sealing cap; forming a hermetic space between the sealing cap and the substrate holder; introducing a pressurized gas into the hermetic space; and detecting a decrease in pressure of the pressurized gas in the hermetic space.

The invention relates to a device for forming concretions in an electrolytic medium by electrolysis, the device comprising an anode and a cathode device connected to each other, the cathode device comprising an arrangement of metal conductors forming a mesh that can be developed in a plane, in a plane P, the cathode device having a surface coefficient of between 20% and 150%, in which: =chemical surface area/influence surface area; the chemical surface area corresponding to the total surface area of the metal conductors intended to be in contact with the electrolytic medium; the influence surface area corresponding to the orthonormal projection of an influence volume in the plane P; and the influence volume corresponding to the volume that extends at any point in space within two centimetres of one of the metal conductors when the mesh is considered developed in a plane, in the plane P.

The invention relates to a device for forming concretions in an electrolytic medium by electrolysis, the device comprising an anode and a cathode device connected to each other, the cathode device comprising an arrangement of metal conductors forming a mesh that can be developed in a plane, in a plane P, the cathode device having a surface coefficient of between 20% and 150%, in which: =chemical surface area/influence surface area; the chemical surface area corresponding to the total surface area of the metal conductors intended to be in contact with the electrolytic medium; the influence surface area corresponding to the orthonormal projection of an influence volume in the plane P; and the influence volume corresponding to the volume that extends at any point in space within two centimetres of one of the metal conductors when the mesh is considered developed in a plane, in the plane P.

A method comprises depositing a barrier layer on a dielectric layer to prevent oxidation of a metal layer to be deposited by electroplating due to an oxide present in the dielectric layer and depositing a doped liner layer on the barrier layer to bond with the metal layer to be deposited on the liner layer by the electroplating. The dopant forms a protective passivation layer on a surface of the liner layer and dissolves during the electroplating so that the metal layer deposited on the liner layer by the electroplating bonds with the liner layer. The dopant reacts with the dielectric layer and forms a layer of a compound between the barrier layer and the dielectric layer. The compound layer prevents oxidation of the barrier layer and the liner layer due to the oxide present in the dielectric layer and adheres the barrier layer to the dielectric layer.