Satin-finished nickel or nickel alloy coating

1. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath for depositing a satin-finished nickel or nickel alloy coating containing: a nickel containing compound and at least one sulfosuccinic acid compound having the general formula (I)

wherein

R 1 , R 2 =hydrogen ion, alkali ion, alkaline, earth ion, ammonium ion and/or C 1 -C 18 hydrocarbon moiety, wherein R 1 and R 2 are identical or different with the proviso that at the most one of the groups R 1 and R 2 =hydrogen ion, alkali ion, ammonium ion or alkaline earth ion, and

wherein

K + =hydrogen ion, alkaline ion, alkaline earth ion, ammonium ion or

at least one quaternary ammonium compound, having the following formula (II)

wherein

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 =hydrogen and/or acyclic C 1 -C 18 hydrocarbon moiety, wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are identical or different with the proviso that at most two of the moieties R 1 , R 2 and R 3 =hydrogen;

R 4 =hydrogen, acyclic C 1 -C 4 hydrocarbon moiety or C 1 -C 4 hydrocarbon moiety substituted with an aromatic group;

X p− =monovalent or multivalent anion; and

p=an integer.

2. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the C 1 -C 18 groups of the sulfosuccinic acid compound (I) which is represented by R 1 , R 2 , or both R 1 and R 2 , of the formula (I) are acyclic or cyclic hydrocarbon moieties or groups of hydrocarbon moieties bridged via ether groups.

3. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sulfosuccinic acid compound is contained in the bath at a concentration of from 0.005 to 5 g/l.

4. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sulfosuccinic acid compound is contained in the bath at a concentration of from 0.005 to 0.05 g/l.

5. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sulfosuccinic acid compound is contained in the bath selected from the group consisting of sulfosuccinic acid dipropyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dibutyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dipentyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dihexyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dicyclohexyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dioctyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dinonyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid monolauryl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dilauryl ester, sulfosuccinic acid monododecenyl ester, sulfosuccinic acid dihexadecyl ester, fatty alcohol polyglycol ether ester of sulfosuccinic acid and sulfosuccinic acid mono(oxodiethoxydodecyl) ester.

6. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sulfosuccinic acid compound is one of the salts thereof selected from the group consisting of the potassium salt, the sodium salt, the ammonium salt and the magnesium salt.

7. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound is contained in the bath at a concentration of from 0.1 to 100 mg/l.

8. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein additionally at least one basic brightener is contained in the bath at a concentration of from 0.005 to 10 g/l.

9. Acid nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 , wherein additionally at least one cobalt ion source is contained in the bath.

10. Method for depositing a satin-finished nickel or nickel alloy coating on an electrically conductive work piece, comprising the following method steps:

a. bringing the work piece into contact with the nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath according to claim 1 ;

b. bringing at least one anode into contact with the nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath;

c. applying a voltage across the work piece and the at least one anode; and

d. electrodepositing a nickel or nickel alloy coating on the work piece.

11. Method according to claim 10 , wherein the nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath is filtered or circulated continuously or intermittently.