Abstract: A particle suitable for use as an electrode material comprising a substrate at least partially coated with an admixture of a hydrophobic material and an electrochemically active, electrically conductive catalyst.The invention includes a method for producing the coated particles.

Abstract: The invention is an electrochemical cell containing a separator-gas electrode combination comprising a separator having a first and a second face adapted to permit the flow of fluids or ions therethrough; a gas electrode adapted to permit a liquid and a gas to enter and exit the electrode and having at least a first and a second face; and a nonconductive self-draining member having a fluid outlet. The self-draining member has at least two faces; at least a portion of a first face contiguous to at least a portion of one face of the separator and at least a portion of a second face contiguous to at least a portion of one face of the gas electrode. The self-draining member has a plurality of interconnected passageways which are in fluid transferring communication with the separator, the gas electrode, and the fluid outlet and provide the major conduit therebetween. The invention also includes a method for electrochemically reacting a gas with a liquid in the cell above.

Abstract: An uncoated ceramic anode comprising titanium having a formal valence of +4; titanium having a formal valence of +3; and a dopant which prevents at least a portion of the titanium +3 from converting to titanium +4 when the ceramic anode is at operating cell conditions. The ceramic anode may have an electrically conductive substance enclosed in its interior. The substance serves to transfer electrical energy from a power source to the ceramic member. These anodes are particularly useful when used in molten salt electrolytic cells because they give good electrolytic production rates while demonstrating exceptionally low wear rates.

Abstract: An improved canister for a filter-type respirator having an end-of-service life warning device which is located in a position such that all air flowing through the canister flows through the warning device after the air has flowed through at least about 50 volume percent of the filtering material contained in the respirator.

Abstract: An improved polymer for use as an ion exchange membrane in an electrolytic cell wherein the polymer has pendant chains containing sulfonic acid ion exchange groups and has an equivalent weight of between about 800 and about 1500. The polymers have a hydration product of less than about 22,000.The electrolytic cell and its method of operation are described when these polymers are used as ion exchange membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to produce compounds represented by the general formulaY--(CFR.sub.f).sub.a --(CFR.sub.f ').sub.b --O--CF.dbd.CF.sub.2by decarboxylation of compounds represented by the general formula ##STR1## where a=0-3; b=0-3;provided a+b=2 or 3;Y.dbd.an acid derivative;X.dbd.Cl, I, or Br;M.dbd.OR, F, Cl, Br, I, OA;A.dbd.alkali metal, alkali earth metal, a quaternary nitrogen and hydrogen;R.sub.f ' and R.sub.f are independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, perfluoroalkyls and fluorochloroalkylsR.dbd.an alkyl having one or more carbon atoms or an aryl.

Abstract: A permeable substrate is coated with a film of silver deposited from an aqueous electroless silver plating solution. The process provides substantially total extraction or depletion of the silver from the solution. The process permits deposition of closely controlled amounts of silver on well-defined permeable areas.

Abstract: A process for operating an electrolytic cell having a relatively-massive dual porosity gas electrode particularly well suited and adapted for utilization as a vertically-disposed oxygen gas-bearing electrochemically reducing cathode in electrolytic cells wherein, for efficient and practical, commercially-large-scale-output operations, there are required to be employed substantial electrolyte liquid depths creating considerable head pressures generally greater than at least about 1 psi (ca. 0.69 dynes/cm.sup.

Abstract: A porous, two layer electrode which may be used as an anode or a cathode and a cell using one or more of the electrodes. The electrode is in a pocket shaped configuration with the inner layer having interstitial passageways which are larger in diameter than the diameter of the corresponding interstitial passageways in the outer layer. The layers may be composed of metallic particles. A catalytically active material may be applied to the electrode. The electrodes are particularly useful as oxygen depolarized cathodes in electrolytic processes.

Abstract: A composite, substantially completely fluorinated film containing ion exchange groups and its use as an ion exchange membrane in an electrolytic cell is described. The membranes are comprised of at least two layers wherein the layers have equivalent weights that differ by less than 150 and contain ion exchange groups.When each layer contains sulfonyl ion exchange groups the equivalent weight of the two layers differ by less than 250. When the equivalent weight difference exceeds 250, at least one layer has an equivalent weight of less than 1000. The higher equivalent weight layer should face the cathode in an electrolytic cell.When the first layer contains carboxylic acid ion exchange groups and the second layer contains sulfonyl ion exchange groups, at least one layer has an equivalent weight of less than 1000. The carboxylic acid containing layer faces the cathode in an electrolytic cell.

Abstract: Novel perhalofluoro ethers and methods for preparing the same having generic formula, ##STR1## wherein a=0 or an integer greater than O;b=0 or an integer greater than O;n=zero or an integer greater than zero;R.sub.f and R'.sub.f are each independently selected from the group consisting of F, perfluoroalkyl and fluorochloroalkyl;X=F, Cl or Br;X'=Cl or Br;Y is an acid group or a group easily convertible to an acid group;Z=F, Cl, Br, OH, NRR' or OA;R and R' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having one or more than one carbon atom and aryl;A=alkali metal, quaternary nitrogen, or R.

Abstract: Polymers and the process for producing polymers by the polymerization of at least three monomers wherein at least one monomer is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoromonochloroethylene, trifluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, 1,1-difluoro-2,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1-difluoro-2-chloroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropylene, octafluoroisobutylene ethylene, vinylchloride, trifluoronitrosomethane, perfluoronitrosoethane and alkyl vinyl ether,and at least one other monomer is selected from the group represented by the general formula: ##STR1## and at least one monomer is selected from the group of monomers represented by the general formula: ##STR2## These polymers are useful as ion exchange membranes in electrolytic cells, especially chlor-alkali electrolytic cells. Other uses include solid, strong acid catalyst useful in corrosive environments, electrodialysis and other similar membrane separation processes.

Abstract: A filter regeneration method comprising mixing precipitate deposited on a bed of filtering particles throughout the bed to thereby reduce the pressure drop across the filter generally occurring during use. Regeneration is conveniently accomplished by fluidizing the precipitate and filtering particles into another portion of the filter. Two types of apparatus are described in which the regeneration method may be used.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrolytic cell comprising: forming a gas-liquid mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a catholyte; and flowing the mixture through interconnecting passageways of a porous cathode, while the cathode is maintained at a voltage sufficient to reduce at least a portion of the oxygen as the mixture flows through the cathode.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method of operating an electrolytic cell having an electrically conductive, foraminous separator support element which is maintained at a voltage potential sufficient to minimize the occurrence of substantial amounts of anodic reactions and cathodic reactions, thereby minimizing corrosion and bipolar effects at the support element.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and its method of operation is described. The cell comprises an anode, a cathode and iron-containing metals exposed to the interior portions of the cell which are maintained at about the same electrical potential as the cathode. These materials are covered with a protective coating to minimize corrosion during operation of the cell.

Abstract: Porous electrode bodies are effectively provided with efficient internal surface deposits of manganese oxide(s) catalyst formations by decomposition, under an atmosphere that can either be oxidizing, reducing or inert in nature, at an elevated temperature of a pre-applied anionic manganese salt reagent (notably manganese nitrate but also certain carboxylic acid salts of manganese, etc.) in order to chemically decompose the reagent to advantageous manganese oxide forms within the body pores. Exposure to a reducing environment after catalyst deposition ameliorates the provided catalyst structure by rendering therein more electrocatalytically active variations of the emplaced manganese oxides. Highly reliable and satisfactory electrode products particularly well suited for use as depolarized cathodes, especially in chlor-alkali cells, are obtained from the treatment.

Abstract: A relatively-massive dual porosity gas electrode particularly well suited and adapted for utilization as a vertically-disposed oxygen gas-bearing electrochemically reducing cathode in electrolytic cells wherein, for efficient and practical, commercially-large-scale-output operations, there are required to be employed substantial electrolyte liquid depths creating considerable head pressures generally greater than at least about 1 psi (ca. 0.69 dynes/cm.sup.

Abstract: Porous electrode bodies are effectively provided with efficient internal surface deposits of manganese oxide(s) catalyst formations by decomposition in an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature of a pre-applied inorganic permanganate salt reagent (notably potassium permanganate) in order to chemically decompose the reagent to advantageous manganese oxide forms within the body pores. Exposure to a reducing environment after catalyst deposition ameliorates the provided catalyst structure by rendering therein more electrocatalytically active variations of the emplaced manganese oxides. Highly reliable and satisfactory electrode products particularly well suited for use as depolarized cathodes, especially in chlor-alkali cells, are obtained from the treatment.

Abstract: An oxygen gas-bearing, flow-through electrode has in associated, cooperative combination: (i) a porous, fluid-pervious and permeable, catalyst-bearing body section adapted to be operated in the fluid-flooded condition; coupled with (ii) means for intimately mixing and delivering to said body section in pore-flooding supply quantities an interblended gas-entrained fluid mixture in effectively reactive relative proportions of desired liquid electrolyte and oxygen-bearing gas. The electrode can be used in any electrolytic cell which is adapted, by inclusion of appropriate components and constituent materials therein, to either generate electricity by chemical action when operated in the galvanic mode or, alternatively when operated in the electrolysis mode, to make recoverable product from the ionically decomposed constituents of the dissolved molecules in the electrolyte.