Letter 24053

Copper pyrophosphate electroless plating bath  

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Hello,

Does anyone have experience on copper pyrophosphate electroless bath? I'd like to know how fast copper pyrophosphate hydrolyses to orthophosphate in bath?

Mia Kumpumäki
University of Oulu - Oulu, Finland

Copper pyrophosphate is electrolytic, not electroless. It may, (although I haven't heard of it) be possible to use hypophosphite as a reducer in a copper electroless bath (generally, HCHO is used as the reducer).

James Totter, CEF - Tallahassee, Florida

I don't know of an electroless copper bath based on pyrophosphate, but that isn't to say it doesn't exist. However, all pyrophosphate baths should be run at less than 60C otherwise the pyrophosphate hydrolyses and dissociates to orthophosphate. Hope this helps you.

Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist - UK

Hello,

I noticed that there was a mistake in my original letter. I meant electrolytic copper bath, not electroless. Sorry.

Mia Kumpumäki
University of Oulu - Oulu, Finland

Dear colleague, if you support pH 9-10 and the temperature 40-50 C, you may use this bath for ages...

Vladimir Krasikov
- St.Petersburg, Russia