Abstract: Asbestos-free diaphragms for chlor-alkali electrolytic cells are prepared by establishing a liquid permeable diaphragm base mat of fibrous synthetic polymeric material on the cathode structure, providing a coating of inorganic particulate material on the base mat, and treating the coated base mat with a nonionic or anionic surfactant. Preferably, the base mat is coated with the inorganic particulate material using a slurry of the inorganic particulate material suspended in an alkali metal halide brine solution containing the surfactant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cathode having an electroconductive substrate and a porous surface. The porous surface is characterized by containing a major portion of nickel and a hydrogen overvoltage reducing amount of molybdenum. The molybdenum may be present as elemental molybdenum, as an alloy with nickel, or as a molybdenum compound. Also disclosed is an electrolytic cell having an anode, a cathode, and a separator between the anode and cathode, where the cathode is characterized by a porous surface having a major portion of nickel and a hydrogen over voltage reducing amount of molybdenum, which molybdenum may be present as elemental molybdenum, and molybdenum alloy with nickel or a molybdenum compound.Further disclosed is a method of electrolyzing an alkali metal chloride brine by passing an electrical current from an anode to a cathode to evolve chlorine at the anode and hydroxyl ion at the cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cathode having characterized by containing a major portion of nickel and a hydrogen overvoltage reducing amount of a second transition metal. Also disclosed is an electrolytic cell having an anode, a cathode, and a separator between the anode and cathode, where the cathode is characterized by a porous surface having a major portion of nickel and a hydrogen over voltage reducing amount of a second transition metal.Further disclosed is a method of electrolyzing an alkali metal chloride brine by passing an electrical current from an anode to a cathode to evolve chlorine at the anode where cathode is characterized by a porous surface containing a major portion of nickel and hydrogen overvoltage reducing amount of a second transition metal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cathode having an electroconductive substrate and a porous surface. The porous surface is characterized by containing a major portion of nickel and a hydrogen overvoltage reducing amount of molybdenum. The molybdenum may be present as elemental molybdenum, as an alloy with nickel, or as a molybdenum compound. Also disclosed is an electrolytic cell having an anode, a cathode, and a separator between the anode and cathode, where the cathode is characterized by a porous surface having a major portion of nickel and a hydrogen over voltage reducing amount of molybdenum, which molybdenum may be present as elemental molybdenum, and molybdenum alloy with nickel or a molybdenum compound.Further disclosed is a method of electrolyzing an alkali metal chloride brine by passing an electrical current from an anode to a cathode to evolve chlorine at the anode and hydroxyl ion at the cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method of conducting electrolysis where a first electrode and a second electrode are inserted in an electrolyte, and an electrical current passes from one of the electrodes to the other electrode. At least one of the electrodes has an oxide coating formed in situ on an electroconductive substrate. According to the disclosed method, an external portion of the coating is abraded to expose an inner portion of the coating.