Abstract: An oxidizer solution for preparing conductive polymers, the solution comprising: at least one oxidizing agent; at least one buffering agent; and at least one solvent; wherein the pH of the oxidizer solution is about 2 or greater. A process of preparing a conductive polymer layer on an anodized surface of an aluminum substrate comprising i) dipping the substrate in an oxidizer solution, ii) drying, and iii) dipping the substrate in a monomer solution and polymerizing; wherein the oxidizer solution comprises at least one oxidizing agent; at least one buffering agent; and at least one solvent, wherein the pH of the oxidizer solution is about 2 or greater. Additional buffering agent is added to the oxidizer solution during the process of preparing the conductive polymer to maintain the pH at 2 or greater.

Abstract: The application of polypropylene carbonate in solution to valve metal powders having relatively high surface area, then evaporating the solvent under static (non-agitating) conditions. The static drying of the coated valve metal powder produces a semi-solid cake which may be converted into a free-flowing powder via screening. Valve metal powders so-coated with polypropylene carbonate are particularly well-suited for the fabrication of powder metallurgy anode bodies used for the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors.