Ternary zinc-nickel-iron alloys and alkaline electrolytes or plating such alloys

1. An aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath for depositing a ternary zinc-nickel-iron alloy on a substrate, the aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath comprising:

zinc ions,

nickel ions,

an alkaline compound selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and

a complex consisting of an iron salt and an iron complexing agent, wherein the iron complexing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium gluconate, sodium tartrate, sodium hydroxybutyrate, potassium gluconate, potassium tartrate, and/or potassium hydroxybutyrate, and wherein the complex is formed prior to addition to the electroplating bath,

wherein a concentration of iron ions in the electroplating bath provided by the complex is from about 0.1 gram per liter to about 25 grams per liter,

wherein the electroplating bath is maintained at a pH of more than about 13

wherein the electroplating bath is configured to deposit a ternary zinc-nickel-iron alloy containing 7 to 16 wt. % nickel, 0.5 to 8.0 wt. % iron, and the balance zinc, and

wherein the electroplating bath is at least essentially free of iron hydroxide.

2. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 1 , further comprising an amount of a nickel complexing agent effective to keep the nickel ions soluble in the bath.

3. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 2 , wherein the nickel complexing agent comprises at least one of an aliphatic amine, alkyleneimine, poly(alkyleneimine), polyamine, amino alcohol, carboxylic acids, or sodium or potassium salts thereof.

4. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 1 , being free of a polyoxyalkylene compound and a quaternary polymer.

5. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 1 , further comprising a brightener.

6. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 5 , wherein the brightener comprises at least one of N-methylpyridinium-3-carboxylate or salt thereof (trigonelline), 1-benzylnicotinate, or sulfopropylpyridinium.

7. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 1 , wherein the iron salt comprises ferrous sulfate.

8. An aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath for depositing a ternary zinc-nickel-iron alloy on a substrate, comprising:

about 4 grams per liter to about 50 grams per liter of zinc;

about 0.1 grams per liter to about 10 grams per liter of nickel;

about 50 grams per liter to about 220 grams per liter of an alkaline compound selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; and

about 2 grams per liter to about 200 grams per liter of a nickel complexing agent; and

a complex consisting of an iron salt and an iron complexing agent, wherein the iron complexing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium gluconate, sodium tartrate, sodium hydroxybutyrate, potassium gluconate, potassium tartrate, and/or potassium hydroxybutyrate, wherein the complex is formed prior to addition to the electroplating bath,

wherein a concentration of iron ions in the electroplating bath provided by the complex is from about 0.1 gram per liter to about 10 grams per liter,

wherein the electroplating bath is configured to deposit a ternary zinc-nickel-iron alloy containing 7 to 16 wt. % nickel, 0.5 to 8.0 wt. % iron, and the balance zinc,

wherein the electroplating bath is maintained at a pH of more than about 13, and

wherein the electroplating bath is at least essentially free of iron hydroxide.

9. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 8 , wherein the nickel complexing agent comprises at least one of an aliphatic amine, alkyleneimine, poly(alkyleneimine), polyamine, amino alcohol, carboxylic acids, or sodium or potassium salts thereof.

10. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 8 , being free of a polyoxyalkylene compound and a quaternary polymer.

11. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 8 , further comprising a brightener.

12. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 11 , wherein the brightener comprises at least one of N-methylpyridinium-3-carboxylate or salt thereof (trigonelline), 1-benzylnicotinate, or sulfopropylpyridinium.

13. The aqueous alkaline zinc-nickel-iron electroplating bath of claim 8 , wherein the iron salt comprises ferrous sulfate.