Multicorrosion protection system for decorative parts with chrome finish

Abstract

The invention relates to a corrosion protection layer system for metal surfaces, said layer system comprising as the two top most layers: a) a discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer and b) a chromium layer plated from a trivalent chromium electrolyte solution, as well as to a method of producing such a layer system. The inventive layer system is capable to combine the good corrosion resistance of the nickel-phosphorus layer against sodium chloride with the protective power of the chromium layer from the trivalent plating process against magnesium and calcium salts, especially without the need for any post-treatment.

Claims

1. A method for the production of a corrosion protection layer system on metal surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a surface to be protected by a corrosion protection layer system, b) plating on said surface a-discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer comprising inorganic solids by an electroplating process from a nickel electrolyte solution, wherein the discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer comprises micropores and/or microcracks between 100 and 1,000,000 micropores per cm.sup.2 and/or between 10 and 10,000 microcracks per cm, and wherein the nickel-phosphorus layer comprises phosphorus in an amount between 2.0 wt. % and 20.0 wt. %, wherein the total weight of the nickel-phosphorus layer is 100 wt. %; and c) plating on said layer of step b) a chromium layer rom a trivalent chromium electrolyte solution by an electroplating process.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) has a pH between 1.0 between 5.0.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution has a pH between 1.1 and 2.0.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) has a phosphorus containing additive in a concentration between 0.01 mol/l and 1.0 mol/l.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) has a phosphorus containing additive in a concentration between 0.05 mol/l and 0.25 mol/l.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the phosphorus containing additive is a hypophosphite or an orthophosphite.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) comprises insoluble inorganic particles with a mean diameter (d50) of between 0.01 μm and 10.0 μm.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) comprises insoluble inorganic particles with a mean diameter (d50) of between 0.3 μm and 3.0 μm.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the insoluble inorganic particles in the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) are selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, BN, ZrO.sub.2, talcum, china clay, or mixtures thereof.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) comprises boric acid.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the boric acid concentration is between 0.1 mol/l and 1.0 mol/l.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the boric acid concentration is between 0.5 mol/l and 0.8 mol/l.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface to be protected by a corrosion protection layer system in an exterior automotive part.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said chromium layer plated from a trivalent chromium electrolyte solution is amorphous, crystalline, microporous, or microcracked.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) The corrosion protection layer system provided by the invention is capable to provide, for the first time, a system that shows sufficient corrosion protection against thawing salt as well as against calcium chloride salt. In addition, the corrosion resistance against corrosion promoted by brake dust is improved. Simultaneously, the system allows the use of trivalent chromium plating solutions without having to be passivated, for instance with a layer from a hexavalent chromium electrolyte bath. It is now possible to avoid the hazardous hexavalent chromium solutions and provide a system that is fully in conformity with the EU regulations for the automobile industry, like the “End of Life Vehicle Directive”.

(2) By the use of the inventive layer system it is possible to combine the good corrosion resistance of the nickel-phosphorus layer against sodium chloride with the protective power of the chromium layer from the trivalent plating process against magnesium and calcium salts. The discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer does not become passive in magnesium and calcium salt solutions and therefore protects the chromium layer above against corrosion.

(3) The inventive layer system used in automobile decorative corrosion protection plating is plated over a two or preferably three layer underlying nickel system which is known in the art. Often the underlying nickel layers are formed as bright nickel layers and semi-bright nickel layers or as satin matte nickel layers and semi bright nickel layers.

(4) The nickel-phosphorus layer plated above the two or three nickel layers underlying the inventive system, shows a corrosion current density that is lower than half of the corrosion current density of bright nickel, with an anodic current of 200-800 mV in 1 molar sodium chloride solution. Moreover, the nickel-phosphorus layer in a system of the present invention shows no passivation with an anodic current of 200-1,000 mV in a high molar calcium chloride solution.

(5) It is advantageously possible with the inventive layer system to achieve good overall corrosion protection without any subsequent passivation of the chromium from the trivalent chromium electrolyte and without the need for any other subsequent post-treatment.

(6) According to an embodiment of the invention the discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer comprises phosphorus in an amount between 2.0 weight-% and 20.0 weight-%, preferably between 3.0 weight-% and 15.0 weight-%, most preferably between 5.0 weight-% and 12.0 weight-%, where the total weight of the nickel-phosphorus layer is 100 weight-%.

(7) The nickel-phosphorus layer of the inventive system with phosphorus amounts between 2.0 weight-% and 20.0 weight-% improves the resistance against corrosion caused by sodium chloride salt in comparison to the previously known layer systems of microporous nickel and chromium from trivalent electrolytes. Lower amounts of phosphorus in the nickel layer do not give the corrosion protection to pass the CASS test and NSS test used in the automobile industry. Higher amounts of phosphorus in the nickel layer are wasteful and also do not show the required corrosion protection.

(8) According to another embodiment of the invention, the discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer comprises micropores and/or microcracks, preferably comprises between 100 and 1,000,000 micropores per cm.sup.2 and/or between 10 and 10,000 microcracks per cm.

(9) The micropores and/or microcracks in the nickel-phosphorus layer of the present invention lead to higher corrosion resistance of the overall layer system. The discontinuous structure of the nickel-phosphorus layer causes a discontinuous structure in the chromium layer plated above the bright or satin matte nickel layer. The micro-discontinuities across the surface spread the corrosion current and thus slow the corrosion rate in the less noble bright or satin matte nickel layer. The corrosion resistance of the layer system improves with higher amounts of micro-discontinuities and when the micro-discontinuities are more evenly distributed.

(10) According to another embodiment of the invention the discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer comprises inorganic solids co-plated from the nickel electrolyte solution. The inorganic solids can be chosen from the group comprising talcum, china clay, aluminum oxides, silicon oxides, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, carbides and nitrides of silicon, boron and titanium, and mixtures thereof.

(11) The use of inorganic solids in the electrolyte causes the inorganic particles to be incorporated in the nickel-phosphorus layer that give the micropore and/or microcrack structure of the layer. A discontinuous layer is formed that contains the incorporated inorganic particles, presumably also in the micropores and/or microcracks. As a result of the incorporation of the inorganic particles in the inventive layer system, a much improved protection against corrosion promoted by brake dust is obtained.

(12) According to another embodiment of the invention, the chromium layer plated from a trivalent chromium electrolyte solution contains between 50 weight-% and 98 weight-% chromium and between 2 weight-% and 50 weight-% of an element chosen from the group consisting of C, N, O, S, P, B, Fe, Ni, Mo, Co, and mixtures thereof, wherein the weight-% always add to 100% and related to the total weight of the plated chromium layer.

(13) According to an embodiment of the invention the chromium layer plated from a trivalent chromium electrolyte solution is amorphous, crystalline, microporous, or microcracked.

(14) The invention relates further to a method for the production of a corrosion protection layer system on metal surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a surface to be protected by a corrosion protection layer system, b) plating on said surface a discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer, c) plating on said layer of step b) a chromium layer from a trivalent chromium electrolyte solution.

(15) By the use of the inventive method layer system it is possible to combine the good corrosion resistance of the nickel-phosphorus layer against sodium chloride, with the protective power of the chromium layer from the trivalent plating process against magnesium and calcium salts. The discontinuous nickel-phosphorus layer does not become passive in magnesium and calcium salt solutions and therefore protects the chromium layer above against corrosion. This can be advantageously achieved by use of the inventive method without the need for any post-treatment of the final chromium layer, either by passivation or any other means.

(16) In step a) of the inventive method, decorative corrosion protection plating used for exterior automobile parts generally is plated over a two or preferably three layer underlying nickel system which is widely known in the art. The surface to be protected in step a) is the final nickel layer of the underlying nickel system. Often the underlying nickel layers are formed as bright nickel layers and semi-bright nickel layers or as satin matte nickel layers and semi bright nickel layers on the metal surface.

(17) Electroplating with nickel electrolytes is known to the skilled person in principle, and usual process measures for electroplating with nickel and phosphorus electrolytes can also be applied to step b) of the present inventive method. Suitable nickel compounds include various nickel salts, especially nickel chloride and nickel sulfate as well as nickel acetate. The content of the nickel compound in the nickel electrolyte bath of step b) is preferably from 0.5 mol/l to 2.0 mol/l and especially preferred from 1.0 mol/l to 1.5 mol/l.

(18) According to the inventive method, the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) has a phosphorus containing additive in a concentration between 0.01 mol/l and 1.0 mol/l, preferably between 0.05 mol/l and 0.25 mol/l. Any soluble phosphorus compounds, with phosphorus in a valence state lower than +5, can be used in step b) of the inventive method. Preferably, the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) comprises a hypophosphite or an orthophosphite.

(19) In a preferred embodiment of the inventive method wherein the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) has a pH in the range of between 1.0 and 5.0, preferably between 1.1 and 2.0. By adjusting the pH value of the nickel electrolyte bath in step b) it is possible to control the amount of phosphorus in the resulting nickel-phosphorus layer. Lower operational pH levels increase the phosphorus content in the deposit while decreasing the plating deposition rate. When the electrolyte has a pH between 1.1 and 2.0, the amount of phosphorus co-plated in the layer results in advantageous corrosion protection, especially against sodium salt promoted corrosion. Adjustment of the pH value of the bath solution can be achieved by addition of acids or alkalis.

(20) The amount of phosphorus co-plated with nickel from the nickel electrolyte bath can also be adjusted with variation of other parameters besides the pH value of the bath solution as it is known in the art.

(21) According to another embodiment of the inventive method, the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) comprises insoluble inorganic particles with a mean diameter (d50) of between 0.01 μm and 10.0 μm, preferably between 0.3 μm and 3.0 μm. The method of measuring the mean diameter of particles (d50) most often used for the present diameter range is laser diffraction. Measurements should be carried out in accordance with the international ISO 13320 standard.

(22) The insoluble inorganic particles in the nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) can preferably be chosen from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, BN, ZrO.sub.2, talcum, china clay, or mixtures thereof.

(23) Any insoluble particles that can be co-deposited to lower surface tension can be used in the inventive method. For example, a final surface tension of the nickel electrolyte bath between 20 and 60 mN/m and preferably between 30 and 50 mN/m, is desirable.

(24) The nickel electrolyte solution for plating step b) comprises a pH buffer, preferably boric acid, in a concentration between 0.1 mol/l and 1.0 mol/l, preferably between 0.5 mol/l and 0.8 mol/l.

(25) In step b) the electroplating of the nickel phosphorus layer can be carried out with a current density of from 0.1 to 5.0 A/dm.sup.2, preferably with a current density of from 1.0 to 2.0 A/dm.sup.2. The parts to be plated in step b) are contacted with the nickel phosphorus electrolyte bath at a temperature of from 40° C. to 70° C., preferably from 55° C. to 60° C. The resulting nickel phosphorus layer is plated in a thickness of from 0.1 μm to 5.0 μm, preferably in a thickness of from 0.5 μm to 2.0 μm.

(26) In step c) of the inventive method the chromium layer is applied in a preferred thickness of from 0.1 μm to 5.0 μm, and preferably in a thickness of from 0.2 μm to 0.8 μm.

(27) The plating electrolyte solution of step c) can be chromium sulfate-based and/or a chromium chloride-based bath. Trivalent chemistries use low concentrations of chromium in the bath, generally 5.0-25 g/L of trivalent chromium. The chromium plating process step c) can utilize pulse and pulse reverse waveforms for trivalent chromium plating. The process step c) generally operates at temperatures of 27° C. to 65° C., so some heating above room temperature can be necessary.

(28) The trivalent chromium bath can be operated within a pH range between 1.8 and 5.0, preferably the pH value is between 2.5 and 4.0. Additives can be used to regulate the pH value of the bath, the surface tension, and to control the precipitation of chromium salts as well as to prevent the oxidation to hexavalent chromium in the solution. For example, an additive such as thiocyanate, monocarboxylate, and dicarboxylate functions as a bath stabilization complexing agent allowing the plating to be stably continued. An additive such as an ammonium salt, alkali metal salt, and alkaline earth metal salt functions as an electricity-conducting salt allowing electricity to easily flow through the plating bath to increase plating efficiency. Furthermore, a boron compound functions as a pH buffer by controlling pH fluctuations in the plating bath, and a bromide has the function of suppressing generation of chlorine gas and production of hexavalent chromium on the anode.

(29) Advantageously, drag-in of chloride and/or sulfate ions from previous nickel-plating operations into the trivalent chromium process is tolerated. By contrast, chloride and sulfate drag-in upset the catalyst balance in a hexavalent chromium process.

(30) The inventive method as well as the inventive corrosion protection layer system may be used to provide effective corrosion protection for exterior automotive parts.

(31) The invention is additionally explained by the following ex pies while the inventive idea is not limited to these embodiments in any way.

EXAMPLES

(32) Three samples of an exterior automobile trim part are electroplated in identical ways. The trim parts are made from ABS and subsequently plated with copper, semi bright nickel and bright nickel. The following main requirements were fulfilled for all samples: copper≥25 μm, semi bright nickel≥7.5 μm, bright nickel≥7.5 μm, potential of semi brig nickel≥100 mV more noble than potential of bright nickel.

(33) Sample 1 (comparative sample) is plated with a microporous nickel layer (2.0 μm and 50 mV more noble than bright nickel) and a chromium layer (0.3 μm) electrodeposited from a hexavalent chromium electrolyte. This sample passes 480 h NSS test and 48 h CASS test according to DIN EN ISO 9227. PV 1073 describes a test method for calcium chloride induced chrome corrosion (PV 1073-A) and break dust accelerated nickel corrosion (PV 1073-B). The above mentioned sample passes PV 1073-B, but fails in PV 1073-A.

(34) Sample 2 (comparative sample) is plated with a microporous nickel layer (2.0 μm and 50 mV more noble than bright nickel), a chromium layer (0.3 μm) electrodeposited from a trivalent chromium electrolyte, and then passivated with a hexavalent chromium containing solution. This sample passes 48 h CASS test and PV 1073-A, but fails in 480 h NSS test and PV 1073-B.

(35) Sample 3 (according to the present invention) is plated with a microporous nickel-phosphorus layer according to table 1 and a chromium layer electrodeposited from a trivalent chromium electrolyte without any post-treatment. This sample passes 480 h NSS test, 48 h CASS test, PV 1073-A, and PV 1073-B.

(36) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Time [min] 4 Nickel [mol/l] 1.3 Temperature [° C.] 55 Sulfate [mol/l] 0.75 Current density [A/dm.sup.2] 2.0 Acetate [mol/l] 0.5 pH 1.4 Chloride [mol/l] 0.6 Surface tension [mN/m] 45 Boric acid [mol/l] 0.75 Thickness [μm] 1.5 Phosphorus acid [mol/l] 0.1 Phosphorus [weight %] 10.5 Al2O3 (d50 1 μm) [g/l] 0.1 Micro-porosity [pores/cm.sup.2] 10,000 SiO2 (d50 2.5 μm) [g/l] 0.8