Claims
- 1. A process for cleaning the surface of a copper base alloy having a surface layer of thermally formed complex metal oxide of a refractory nature which is resistant to ferric sulfate, said process comprising immersing the said surface in an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH of 11 to 14 and heated to a temperature of about 40.degree. C. to its boiling point for a period of two seconds to not more than ten minutes, and then immersing the said surface in 0.5 to 3 N. aqueous solution of ferric sulfate containing no added mineral acid at a temperature of 25.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. for a period of two seconds to not more than five minutes, said process being adapted to remove said surface layer from the copper base alloy surface when said surface layer has a thickness up to at least 160 A.
- 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said alloy contains Al and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Fe, Co and Si.
- 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein said thermal oxide layer has a thickness of 140 to 160 A.
- 4. A process according to claim 1 wherein said alkaline solution is at 70.degree. C. to its boiling point.
- 5. A process according to claim 1 wherein said alloy contains silicon and wherein said ferric sulfate solution is effective to remove oxides at grain boundaries of said alloy by attacking said alloy.
- 6. A process according to claim 1 wherein said ferric sulfate solution is at 60.degree. to 90.degree. C.
- 7. A process according to claim 1 wherein said surface is immersed in said alkaline solution for a period of five to sixty seconds.
- 8. A process according to claim 1 wherein said surface is immersed in the said ferric sulfate solution for a period of five to sixty seconds.
- 9. A process according to claim 1 wherein said ferric sulfate solution has a pH of 0.35 to 1.
- 10. A process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution of ferric sulfate is from 1.25 to 2 N.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 104,244, filed Dec. 17, 1979, by Michael J. Pryor et al. for Copper Alloy Cleaning Process, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 941,890, filed Sept. 13, 1978, by Michael J. Pryor et al. for Copper Alloy Cleaning-Process, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Dettner/Elze-Handbuch der Galvano-Technik; vol. I/2-C. Hanser Verlag, 1964 Munich (DE) * p. 772*. |
Continuations (1)
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Date |
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104244 |
Dec 1979 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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941890 |
Sep 1978 |
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