Abstract: Planar surfaces are roughened by graining with an aqueous slurry of unfused platy, crystalline alumina. Preferably, an aluminum base with is adapted to receive a light-sensitive coating thereon to make lithographic plate is grained with said aqueous slurry.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for coating a thin film upon a substrate in a vacuum chamber using the sputter deposition technique on both sides of the substrate without rotation of the substrate. The substrate is held between two movable rams and is located between two targets equal to or larger in size than the substrate. The rams supply power and cooling to the substrate. A glow suppression ring circumscribes the periphery of the substrate. The cathodes of the sputtering system can be magnetically enhanced for concentration of the sputtering plasma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolytic gold and silver refining cell for extracting gold and silver contained in a material. The cell is part of a plurality of cells arranged in at least one common vessel provided with a solution feeding inlet, an exhausted solution outlet, and a stirrer. The cell is also provided with a plate cathode consisting of an acid-proof material and a plate anode consisting of the abovementioned material containing Au and Ag. The material is introduced into a filtering bag. The cathode and anode electrodes are suspended parallel to each other within the common vessel and are inserted in parallel in a d.c. supplied network. The invention is characterized by the fact that the vessel, housing a plurality of side by side cells, is provided with a hopper bottom with an outlet conduit controlled by a first normally open valve and connected to a larger conduit provided at its end with a second normally closed valve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for converting a diaphragm electrolytic cell to a membrane electrolytic cell by using the standard diaphragm cell equipment and applying a membrane over top of a matting material upon the cathode surface. This method permits a manufacturer having diaphragm electrolytic cells to convert those cells to membrane electrolytic cells without significant capital expenditure to achieve the desirable characteristics of a membrane electrolytic cell.

Abstract: A fluid, such as air or water, carrying suspended solids is directed between a pair of oppositely charged, corrugated surfaces in order to subject the flow to an undulating action that increases the frequency with which the solid particles impinge against one another, thereby increasing the rate of flocculation of the solids. In the case of airborne particles, the corrugated surfaces are arranged in an upright condition so that the flocculated particles attracted to one or the other of such surfaces gravitate therefrom into a conveying mechanism that delivers such particles to a collecting receptacle. In the case of liquid-borne particles, the flow is forced to travel upwardly against the force of gravity after passing between the surfaces, thereby encouraging the flocculated particles to settle out into a sump that is associated with the uphill flow passage.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for the production of colored coatings on articles of aluminum or aluminum alloys which are particularly adapted to be employed for architectural uses which involves first forming a hard, dense anodic coating on aluminum and aluminum base alloys by anodizing the aluminum in a specific electrolyte comprising sulfuric acid, a polyhydric alcohol of 3 to 6 carbon atoms and an organic carboxylic acid containing at least one reactive group in the alpha position in order to obtain a material having a film thickness of between about 0.6 to about 1.1 mils and thereafter electrolytically coloring said anodized aluminum by passing alternating current between said anodized aluminum and a counter-electrode in an aqueous bath containing acid and a metal salt.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for the production of colored coatings on articles of aluminum or aluminum alloys. The process involves first forming a hard, dense anodic coating of between about 0.2 to about 1.1 mils on the aluminum or aluminum base alloys by anodizing the aluminum in an acidic aqueous electrolyte comprising sulfuric acid, a polyhydric alcohol of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and an organic carboxylic acid containing at least one reactive group in the alpha-position coloring the coating by applying alternating current to an electrode system comprising the coating and a counterelectrode immersed in an acidic aqueous bath containing a metal salt while modulating the voltage externally of said electrode system so as to apply voltage with controlled assymmetry to said electrodes.

Abstract: The material H(UO.sub.2)XO.sub.4.nH.sub.2 O, where X is P, As or I(OH).sub.2, conducts protons and when pressed under steadily increasing pressure (subsequently gradually released) may find use as a component of a battery, fuel cell, electrochromic cell, water vapor pressure meter or the like.

Abstract: A system for supplying arsine having automatic arsine monitoring and controls to a semiconductor reactor is described wherein arsine is electrochemically generated from an electrolyte solution such as an inorganic acid and an arsenite salt. The electrolytic cell vessel also comprises the cathode structure. A circular concentric barrier is provided to isolate the oxygen produced at the cathode in an annular region from the arsine generated at the anode located centrally within the cell.

Abstract: The electrolytic pickling of silicon electrical steel sheet that follows hot rolling, is improved by limiting the potential imposed on the steel, during the anodic phase thereof, to less than +1 V with respect to the standard hydrogen electrode, preferably less than +0.8 V. The avoidance of electrolysis of the aqueous medium shortens the treatment time, reduces energy consumption, avoids over-pickling, facilitates subsequent rolling, reduces the subsequent rolling load, improves adherence of the subsequently applied glass film, and renders more uniform the magnetic characteristics of the steel.

Abstract: An improved cathode element for use in a metal, e.g., aluminum reduction cell, said cathode element comprising an elongated hollow body, the lower end of which is affixed to or imbedded in the floor of the cell, the upper end of which terminates proximate the anode said upper end provided with a cap element formed of an electrically conductive material said cap element being in electrically conductive communication with a body of molten metal confined within the hollow body.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for compensating for detrimental magnetic horizontal fields at the plus or upstream end of longitudinally oriented pots in plants for melt-electrolytic production of aluminium, in particular where compensation for vertical magnetic influence from one pot row to another is provided for by utilizing an anode current supply to the minus or downstream end of each pot. A smaller proportion of the current supply to the minus end of the pot takes place through one or more conductors being located underneath the pot in the longitudinal direction thereof, said smaller proportion of the current supply being preferably no more than 20% of the total anode current supply.

Abstract: A hand held plating applicator for electroplating a relatively soft metal onto a substrate consisting of an anode composed of the relatively soft metal, an electrically insulating handle, and a backing composed of a metal substantially harder than the relatively soft metal. The backing is secured to the handle, and has a plurality of countersunk apertures therein, the soft anode having integral protuberances which extend through the apertures and hold the anode in firm contact with one face of the backing. The protuberances are flattened at their ends to fill up the countersunk portions of the apertures, and provide surfaces which are flush with the opposite face of the backing.

Abstract: A process for the production of coin blanks suitable for minting into coins, includes providing metal coin core pieces of disc-like shape each having opposed faces from about 14 mm to about 40 mm in diameter and a face to face thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.6 mm. A charge of core pieces is loaded into a non-conducting perforated container with a diameter of from about 15 cm to about 50 cm, the number of core pieces in the container being such that the core pieces occupy from about 1/4 to 1/2 of the container volume. The container is placed in an electroplating bath, and a metallic cladding is plated on the core pieces, while moving the container angularly about a horizontal axis, at a voltage of from about 6 volts to about 18 volts and a current density of from about 470 A/m.sup.2 to about 1400 A/m.sup.2 based on the exposed area of the charge, until a plating thickness of from about 0.03 mm to about 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolytic cell having electrode units of opposite polarity where each of the electrode units have fingered electrodes extending outwardly therefrom toward the electrode unit of opposite polarity. In this way, the electrodes are interleaved between electrodes of opposite polarity. At least one of the electrode units has a base plate with fingered electrodes mechanically and electrically connected thereto. The fingered electrodes bear a synthetic separator such as a microporous diaphragm or a permionic membrane thereon with lap at the base. The electrolytic cell is characterized by a fingered, interleaved electrode of the electrode unit of opposite polarity compressively bearing upon the lap, whereby to provide an electrolyte-tight seal.

Abstract: An especially efficient and durable electrolytic cell is provided by utilizing a combined cathode and diaphragm unit wherein the cathode is made by spray coating a ferrous metal substrate with a powder metal having lower hydrogen overvoltage than said substrate to form a protected cathode surface having a larger surface area than the substrate, and vacuum depositing fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer fibers onto the spray coated surface of the cathode to form a fibrous diaphragm securely adhered thereto. Preferably, the cathode surface is made with nickel and the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene and copolymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene and at least one compatible monomer with units of chlorotrifluoroethylene accounting for at least 80 percent of the monomeric units of said copolymer.

Abstract: An electrolytic apparatus is disclosed for recovering a metal from a solution in which the metal is present in ionic form. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an elongated strip of plastic film coated on both sides thereof with conductive coatings to form anodic and cathodic surfaces. The film strip is located between two end plates to form a cell. The strip is formed into a spiral or helix so as to place the anodic surface opposite the cathodic surface. The cell is mounted within a canister and fluid passageways are provided to enable metal ion-containing solution to pass through the helical cell. Electrical leads are provided to equally distribute the plating current throughout the cell.

Abstract: An electrolysis cell assembly of the filter press type having plastic frames and a membrane wherein the membrane is formed to fit between adjacent frames with one or more recesses provided on one or both of the adjacent frames together with sealing gasket means which are formed for effectively controlling electrode spacing and for retaining the membrane in position without membrane damage. The construction not only provides proper sealing and protection of the membrane during use, but also allows for the membrane to be removed, reactivated, and reused.

Abstract: An electrode guide is used in an apparatus for electrochemically drilling an axial hole in a longitudinally extending workpiece such as a suture needle. An electrode is telescopically received in one end of the tubular guide and the workpiece in the other. Electrically non-conductive inserts are provided in the guide to position the electrode and the workpiece in axial alignment. The depth of the hole to be drilled is limited by one of the inserts which abuts the end of the needle to prevent further axial motion when the hole has reached a predetermined depth. A plurality of the electrodes are disposed in a side by side arrangement. The inlet end portions of adjacent electrodes diverge to facilitate connecting an electrolyte conducting conduit to each electrode.

Abstract: An improved electrolytic cell comprises the combination of a wide electrode, or more closely spaced electrodes, to achieve a narrow gap between electrodes, the electrodes being of conventional, simple, non-adjustable construction, guide spacers separating the anode elements and cathode elements of the electrolytic cell, and a hard, dimensionally stable, diaphragm.