Coated stainless-steel/copper weld for electroplating cathode

A copper welding rod is used in an arc-welding operation to form a bead that joins a copper starter sheet and a stainless steel hanger bar. The amperage level of the arc-welding equipment is set to generate heat at the weld site which is above the melting point of copper and below the melting point of stainless steel. This results in a welded joint between the copper bead and the hanger bar and a brazed joint between the copper bead and the starter sheet. Since brazing produces little or no fusion, the area of contact between the two dissimilar metals is limited to the interface between them, which significantly reduces the damaging effects of galvanic corrosion. Another improvement lies in the application of a corrosion-resistant metallic coating on the joint between the hanger bar and the starter sheet using a high velocity oxygen fuel flame spray technique.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to electrolytic processes and equipment for refining copper and more particularly to an improved electrolytic cathode and method of making same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The principle of electrolysis has been utilized for decades to extract metals and other cations from an electrolytic solution. The extraction process is carried out by passing an electric current through an electrolyte solution of the metal of interest, such as copper, gold, silver or lead. The metal is extracted by electrical deposition as a result of current flow between a large number of anode and cathode plates immersed in cells of a dedicated extraction tank house. The anode is made of a material that is dissolved and therefore lost during the process, while the cathode is constructed of a metal alloy, such as titanium or copper alloys and various grades of stainless steel (316L, 2205, etc.), which are resistant to corrosive acid solutions. In the most efficient processes, each cathode consists of a thin sheet of metal having a uniform thickness (2–4 mm) disposed vertically between parallel sheets of anodic material, so that an even current density is present throughout the surface of the cathode. A solution of metal-rich electrolyte and various other chemicals, as required to maintain an optimal rate of deposition, are circulated through the extraction cells; thus, as an electric current is passed through the anodes, electrolyte and cathodes, a pure layer of electrolyte metal is electro-deposited on the cathode surface, which becomes plated by the process.

Similarly, to purify a metal in a refinery process using electro-deposition, an anode of impure metal is placed in an electrolytic solution of the same metal and subjected to an electric current passing through the anode, electrolyte and cathode of each cell. The anode goes into solution and the impurities drop to the bottom of the tank. The dissolved metal then follows the current flow and is deposited in pure form on the cathode, which typically consists of a starter sheet of stainless steel. When a certain amount of pure metal has been plated onto the starter sheet, the cathode is pulled out of the tank and stripped of the pure metal.

In both processes, the pure metal deposit is grown to a specific thickness on the cathode during a predetermined length of time and then the cathode is removed from the cell. It is important that the layer of metal deposited be recovered in uniform shaped and thicknesses and that its grade be of the highest quality so that it will adhere to the cathode blank during deposition and be easily removed by automated stripping equipment afterwards. The overall economy of the production process depends in part on the ability to mechanically strip the cathode of the metal deposits at high throughputs and speeds without utilizing manual or physical intervention. To that end, the cathode blanks must have a surface finish that is resistant to the corrosive solution of the tank house and must be strong enough to withstand their continuous handling by automated machines without pitting or marking. Any degradation of the blank's finish causes the electro-deposited metal to bond with the cathode resulting in difficulty of removal and/or contamination of the deposited metal.

Also immensely important in the production and refining of metals by electrolytic extraction is the relationship of electrical power consumption with metal production rates. The total weight of deposited metal can be calculated theoretically by knowing the actual energy used, the concentration of metal in solution, the average residence time, the number of cells, and the surface area available for deposition in each cell. In practice, all electrical amperages and flow rates are continuously monitored throughout the deposition cycle to optimize the electrolytic process. After the cathodes have been pulled out of the cells and the deposited metals have been stripped and weighed, the electrolytic-production weight is divided by the theoretical cell production weight to determine cell efficiency. A cell efficiency of ninety-five percent or better is the goal for the best operations.

In order to achieve this level of efficiency, the voltage profile across the cathodic deposition surface must be held constant and variations avoided. Shorts due to areas of high current density caused by nodulization or by curved cathode surfaces that touch the anode must be prevented. Therefore, the details of construction of cathode blanks are very important to minimize operational problems and ensure high yields.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,074 issued to Perry in 1980 describes a cathode for electrolytic refining of copper that was considered to be the state of the art in the industry. It consists of a stainless steel hanger bar with the top edge of a stainless steel starter sheet in abutting relationship with the flat bottom surface of the hanger bar. Stitch welding is used to attach the starter sheet to the hanger bar so that it depends vertically from the hanger bar. The opposite ends of the hanger bar are supported on a spaced-apart pair of horizontally disposed bus bars and are in electrically conductive contact therewith for energizing the system. In order to reduce the electrical resistance resulting from the spot welds between the hanger bar and the starter sheet, the hanger bar and the upper edge of the starter sheet are uniformly clad with copper, thereby creating a low resistance boundary between the two.

The cathode structure disclosed in the Perry patent was a significant improvement over the prior art; however, some of its features caused problems from time to time. The flat bottom surface of the hanger bar tended to remain positioned in full contact with the bus bars even when the starter sheet was not perfectly perpendicular to it because of warpage or other structural defects. In such cases, the starter sheet would not hang perfectly vertical and its distance from adjacent anodes was not uniform and sometimes it would even be in shorted contact with the anodes. This caused nonuniform deposits that affected the efficiency of operation and the quality of the product. Another problem with the Perry cathode resulted from wear which caused pits and faults to develop in the copper cladding around the hanger bar. When this occurred, the steel of the hanger bar underneath the copper cladding was exposed to the highly corrosive atmosphere of the tank house and this resulted in a rapid build-up of high-resistance corrosion spots which decreased the conductivity of the entire electrode. Such corrosion eventually caused enough structural damage to require replacement of the hanger bar and reconditioning of the cathode. In addition, when the copper plating became sufficiently worn to become inefficient as a conductor at the boundary between the hanger bar and the starter sheet, the current flow became restricted to the relatively high resistance weld spots and therefore affected the efficiency of the cathode as well.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,609 by Assenmacher overcame some of the problems associated with the Perry cathode. The hanger bar is of solid copper and has a longitudinally extending groove formed in the bottom surface thereof into which the upper edge of the starter sheet fits tightly. A continuous seam weld is used to provide improved boundary conductivity without the need for copper plating. The hanger bar is configured with a rounded in cross-section bottom surface to allow the cathode to rotate under the influence of gravity into a vertically disposed attitude to provide uniform spacing of the cathode relative to the adjacent anodes. Although Assenmacher disclosed a significantly improved structure, some problems remained unsolved. One such problem has been the galvanic corrosion that takes place at the junction of two dissimilar metals; that is, the stainless steel starter sheet and the copper hanger bar. The welding process which joins the starter sheet to the hanger bar causes a melting of both metals, which in turn produces a commingling of the two metals and brings a relatively large amount of dissimilar metal particles into contact with each other. Therefore, galvanic corrosion is increased by the enlarged interface produced by the melting of the two metals associated with the welding process. The greater interface between copper and steel along the weld bead is also exposed to the highly corrosive atmosphere of the tank house, which causes etching into the weld bead and which in time causes a decrease in electrical conductivity and eventually structural damage to the cathode.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved cathode structure for electrolytic refining of copper and a method of making same, with the improved cathode overcoming some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A conventional electrolytic cathode includes a copper hanger bar with an elongated groove formed along the bottom longitudinal surface thereof and an edge of the cathode starter sheet positioned in the groove. According to the present invention, a special bond is formed at the junction of the cathode starter sheet and the hanger bar to mechanically and electrically couple them to each other in a manner which minimizes the area subject to galvanic corrosion. According to another aspect of the invention, a special coating is utilized in the immediate area of the copper bead to protect it from corrosion.

As used herein, the term “welding” refers to the process whereby two metallic parts are united by heating and allowing the metals to flow together in a mixture formed at the joint. The term “weld” is used to refer to such a welded joint. The term “brazing” is used to refer to the process whereby a copper-based alloy or a silver-based alloy is united to a metallic surface by heating to a temperature below the melting point of the metal, thereby avoiding flowing of the base metal and the formation of a mixture at the joint, although some fusion may occur at the interface between the brazing material and the base metal. The term “bond” is used to refer to a joint that may be either welded, brazed, or both, as defined herein.

The special bond of the invention is preferably formed by an arc-welding process using a pure copper rod. The amperage setting of the arc-welding equipment is set to generate a temperature at the weld site that is above the melting point of the copper but is below the melting point of the cathode starter sheet, which is preferably formed of stainless steel. Thus, the copper of the welding rod and the copper of the hanger bar will both be melted to produce a conventional welded joint at the junction thereof, and the junction of the rod and the cathode starter sheet will be in the form of a brazed bond in that the welding rod will be melted to bond with the unmelted starter sheet. Because little or no fusion takes place in brazing, the area of interface between steel and copper is held to a minimum by eliminating or at least substantially reducing the commingling of the two metals, thereby reducing the area that is subject to galvanic corrosion.

The special coating which protects the joint bead from corrosion is in the form of a metallic coating applied to the area to be protected using a thermal spray process. As is known in the art, thermal spray processes involve the spraying of molten metal onto a target area with the melting being accomplished by oxygen-fuel combustion or by an electric arc. The molten metal is accelerated by a flame, impacts the target area, and solidifies to form a cohesive low-porosity coating. There are several variations or types of thermal spray processes and it has been determined that the type referred to as High Velocity Oxygen Fuel Flame Spray (HVOF) is preferred in providing corrosion protection for weld beads according to the invention. The HVOF process is based on a special torch design in which a compressed oxygen fuel flame undergoes free expansion upon exiting the torch nozzle and in doing so achieves dramatic gas acceleration. The metal is injected at the back of the torch and exits the nozzle in a molten state and at a rate above supersonic velocity. Upon impacting the area to be coated, the molten metal spreads out and solidifies into a thin cohesive low-porosity coating.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electrolytic cathode for use in the refining of copper and a method of making such a cathode.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrolytic cathode which includes a hanger bar and starter sheet of dissimilar metals which are mechanically and electrically interconnected by a special bond that reduces the copper/steel interface area and thereby minimizes the area that is subject to galvanic corrosion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrolytic cathode of the above described character wherein the hanger bar is formed of copper and the starter sheet is formed of stainless steel and the special bond forms a conventional welded junction of the copper bead and the hanger bar and a brazed junction of the copper bead and the starter sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to coating is applied by a high velocity oxygen fuel flame spray process.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself will be more fully understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring more particularly to the drawings,FIG. 1shows the electrolytic cathode of the present invention which is indicated generally by the reference numeral10.

To insure a clear understanding of the invention, a brief description will now be presented of the operation and use of the cathode10. Typically, the cathode10includes the major components of a header bar or hanger bar12and a starter sheet14which is sometimes referred to in the industry as a mother plate or mother blank. The cathode10is illustrated in its operational position wherein the opposite ends of the hanger bar12are supported on a spaced apart parallel pair of bus bars16and18which are shown in phantom lines. When supported in this manner, the starter sheet14depends from the hanger bar12between a pair of anodic plates (not shown). The starter sheet14, and of course the anodic plates, are suspended in an electrolytic solution made up of a metal-rich electrolyte and other chemicals which includes a highly corrosive acid, with the solution being circulated through the cells of an extraction tank house. An electric current is passed through the anodes, electrolytic solution and the cathode and the resulting electrolysis produces the deposition of the metal on the surface of the cathode's starter sheet.

As is customary, the hanger bar12is formed of solid copper has an elongated shape with an approximate length of 125 cm. a rectangular cross-section, and has an elongated surface20curved in cross-section (FIG. 3). In the operational position, the curved elongated surface20of the hanger bar12is the bottom surface thereof which rests on the bus-bars16and18, so that the cathode10is free to rotate under the influence of gravity to bring the starter sheet14into a vertically depending attitude.

The starter sheet14is of planar configuration and is typically formed of a metal alloy, usually stainless steel, with a thickness of approximately 3.2 mm, and is approximately one meter square. The starter sheet14has a pair of windows22and24which provide openings for mechanical handling of the cathode10by automated equipment, and the starter sheet also includes a pair of elongated strips26installed along opposite vertical edges of the sheet to rigidify it and to prevent electro-deposition of metal along those edges.

Reference is now made toFIGS. 2 through 6, wherein the steps of the method of the present invention are illustrated with the cathode10being shown in an inverted position relative to the operational position thereof shown inFIG. 1. It will be apparent as this description progresses that the inverted position is the most convenient position for accomplishing those manufacturing steps.

FIG. 2shows the initial step of milling or otherwise forming three longitudinally aligned grooves28,30and32in spaced apart locations along the length of the surface20of the hanger bar12. The next step is that of forming the windows22and24in the starter sheet14so that the windows open up onto one edge34of the starter sheet, and divide that edge into three spaced apart land areas36,38and40. The spacing of the windows22and24and the land areas36,38and40of the starter sheet14are formed to match the spacing of the grooves28,30and32of the hanger bar12, and the next step involves installing the land areas36,38and40in the grooves28,30and32, respectively. The grooves are formed in the hanger bar with width dimensions that are sized so that the land areas of the starter sheet14fit tightly without having to be forced, and the grooves are formed with a depth dimension of about 6.4 mm which has been found to be optimal for providing sufficient contact for the welding step to follow.

FIG. 3shows the next step of the present method which is applying a weld conditioning substance42, such as with a suitable brush44, to the metals of the hanger bar12and the starter sheet14in the areas thereof which are to be bonded. A weld conditioning substance such as a conventional bi-metal flux may be used.

FIG. 4shows the next step as being the joining of the hanger bar12and the starter sheet14by employing a special bonding technique. This step is preferably performed by arc-welding in a tungsten inert gas (T.I.G.) process with a pure copper rod45. In order to insure a uniform joint, it is critical that the heat generated by the welding process be distributed uniformly along the hanger bar12and hot spots be avoided. Accordingly, it is advisable to couple a portion of the hanger bar to an efficient and evenly distributed heat sink during the bonding process. For example, the hanger bar12may be partially immersed in a container46of a suitable thermally conductive liquid48, with the liquid being circulated at a rate which maintains the temperature of the hanger bar12as constant and uniform as is practically possible. The special bonding process mentioned above involves setting the voltage of the T.I.G. welding equipment at a value so that the temperature generated at the weld site is above the melting point of copper but below the melting point of the stainless steel. This results in a welded joining of the copper bead50with the copper of the hanger bar12and a brazed joining of the copper bead50with the stainless steel of the starter sheet14. It will be noted that the groove run-out areas52are also closed by this process to prevent corrosive etching behind the copper bead.

In order to achieve the weld/braze balance necessary to weld the weld bead to the copper hanger bar12while only brazing it to the stainless-steel starter sheet14, it may be convenient to direct the welding torch prevalently toward the hanger bar to control the relative distribution of heat produced by the welding process. Such a technique may be used advantageously by one skilled in the art to effect the required degree of welding at the copper/copper interface and to ensure at the same time, that the copper/stainless-steel interface is bonded by brazing.

The next step is shown inFIG. 5and involves masking the hanger bar12and the starter sheet14with a suitable material54such as PVC or CPVC plastic, so that only an area55adjacent the copper bead50is exposed as defined by the edges56of the masking material54. The next step is vapor blasting of the un-masked exposed area55of the hanger bar12, the starter sheet14and the copper bead50with a suitable blasting medium57, such as aluminum oxide.

The vapor blasting prepares the exposed areas55of the hanger bar12, the starter sheet14and the copper bead50for the next step, illustrated inFIG. 6. This step involves applying a protective coating58on the exposed area55to prevent corrosive etching thereof using a thermal spray process. There are several types of thermal spray processes; namely, electric arc, plasma, combustion flame, vacuum plasma and HVOF (an acronym for high velocity oxygen fuel flame). HVOF is preferred in that the coatings applied by this process have been found to provide superior corrosion protection. The HVOF process used to practice the invention is a well known combustion flame process. A compressed flame undergoes free expansion upon exiting the torch nozzle and in doing so accelerates to a supersonic velocity. A suitable powdered metal feed stock is injected at the back of the torch and is carried with the expanding flame in a molten state to impinge on the target area at supersonic velocity. The impinging molten metal spreads out into a very thin cohesive low-porosity layer and provides the coating with excellent corrosion-resistant properties. Many different metals may be used for this purpose, but 316L stainless steel in powder form is preferred because it is readily available and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other available metals. The final step of the method of the invention is the removal of the masking material54, which readies the cathode10for use.

Reference is now made toFIG. 7, wherein the improved characteristics of the copper bead50formed by the method of the present invention are shown. As hereinbefore described, the special bonding step produces a welded joint between the copper bead50and the copper hanger bar12. Such joints, resulting from melting of the metals at the interface thereof, includes an area60of commingled metal. Because the temperature produced at the weld site is below the melting point of the stainless steel starter sheet14, the brazed joint between the weld bead50and the starter sheet reflects little or no fusion at the interface62thereof. Thus, the area of contact between the two dissimilar metals is minimized and galvanic corrosion is similarly minimized.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrated embodiment, many modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art which do not depart from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.