The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-01
-Dietz on Science
COPPER SHEETS
NOW PRODUCED
BY ELECTRICITY
Method Is Much Faster
Than Old Way of Using
Rollers.
BY DAVID DIETZ
SrrIpps Howard Seienes Ediinr

copper sheets BY electro chemical
methods is expected 10 reduce the
cost materially and TO result in
many new uses of sheet copper.
Many years Of research by metal
lurgists have resulted in the de-
velopment Of the new method which
IS known as "electrodepositing.
The old way Of making thin cop
per sheets was TO roll a bar of cop
per between a series OF rollers. each
trip through the rollers fiattening
out the copper a little more This
method was slow. il often taking as
much as three weeks to produce a
very thin sheet. There were also
considerable losses due to scrap.
In the new process. the copper
sheets are produced in a few hours.
The process may be started with
less pure material since IL is auto
matically purified as it is deposited
In addition, sheets three times as
vide as those obtained by the me-
chanical process can be obtained
The new process IS somewhat
allied TO that used for copper plat
ing but employs an electric current
many times larger. The copper is
deposited from a solution upon
large. revolving faced drum.
Tho copper is formed upon the
drums into sheets as light as one
ounce per square foot and as wide
as thirty inches
II a heavier sheet is desired the
thin sheet is sent through a second
tank where additional copper is de-
posted upon its surface. Any de-
sired thickness up to sixteen ounces
per square foot can be obtained in
this way
For Automobile Tops
II is expected that the new copper
Shooting will find many uses in
conjunction with other materials TO
which IL Will b. bonded In this
fashion 1t can be used with com
position board. fiber paper, felt and
various textiles.
One automobile concern is re-
ported TO be experimenting with
combination Of copper sheeting and
fabric as a topping material for
closed cars. This would give the
car freproof copper top 1t is be-
hevcd that this top would weather
we'll and be more resistant to the
abrasion of tree branches than the
materials now used.
Experiments are also being tried
10 use the copper Sheeting alone or
the copper in conjunction with
another fabric as a roofing material.
At the present time. thin copper
sheets are used to cover under
ground pipes as a means of pro-
tecln ing them from corrosion. 1t is
Gus. -mary to cover the iron pipes
with a plastic coating. The pipe is
then wrapped with a spiral of thin
copper.
WaterprOofs Pipe Joints
Copper sheets. eight inches wide,
are used for this purpose and so
wrapped that layers overlap by an
inch. The plastic coating holds the
sheet in place and makes the joints
waterproof.
II has also been suggested that
thin copper could be used to REIN
force the covers on library books
which are subjected 10 hard usage.
One oil company is reported TO
be using thin copper strips inSteae
of paper in recording machines.
They found errors creeping into the
records because changes in humidity
caued the paper strip 10 stretch
or shrink. thus diStorting the rec
or
. her important developments in
m alurgy, according TO Arthur d.
| L.. Inc chemists and ENGINEERS
Of Cambridge. Mass. include the
developments OF porcelain enamel
on a pressed steel backing.
Porcelain enamel on cast iron
backing is familiar. The kitchen
sink is the best known example.
Pressed steel backing now is being
used in the manufacture of -efrig-
orators. gas ranges. electric stoves
and washing machines.
Engineers now arc working on Law
atoilcS ana bath TUBS. each pressed
from a single sheet of steel. and 1t is
predicted that eventually they will
develop a kitchen unit of pressed
steel which will include a sink. re-
frie ,rator. stove and cabinet all i'll
on
c her new developments predicted
arc the use of enameled iron pipe
inst ad of brass or copper pipe for
ORA pipes and cutters on the ex-
tcri0rs Of houses.
I at sheets of porcelain enamel
on steel also are being suggested for
Use as building material. either
IN the form OF wall plates or shin
giles
is pointed out that many struc-
lures. built Of steel frames covered
with such panels or shingles. could
be set up and taken down at will.
II would be possible. for example.
10 build gasoline station or similar
structure in this way, which could
be moved from time to time as
the trend OF business dictated