Improvements relating to the Electro-deposition of Iron on Copper or other Metallio Surfaces.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Electro-deposition of Iron on Copper
or other Metallio Surfaces.
I, ARTHUR HIORNS, of 67 Mayer Street, Hanley, in the County of Stafford,
Electro-metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention relates to the electro-deposition of iron on copper or other metallic
surfaces, my object being to readily and economically deposit a firmly adhering
film of iron ou engraved copper plates, electro-types, and other metallic surfaces,
thereby rendering them capable of enduring a considerable period of wear and tear
without losing their sharpness.
In carrying my invention into effect I first thoroughly clean the copper plate or
other metallic surface, with potash and by means of powdered pumice-stune and
soda-lime. The plate is then placed in the striking bath composed preferably of a
solution of ammonio-sulphate of iron. A bar or plate of Swedish or like pure iron
is inserted in the bath to form the anode, the copper plate itself forming the cathode.
A very strong current of electricity is then sent through the solution with the
result that the surface of the plate is speedily covered with a thin film of iron,
On the removal of the plate from the striking bath, I scour it with powdered
pumice-stone and soda-lime in order to clear any part of the copper surface that
may be left exposed or un-coated by an iron film, and thus prepare it for coating
on re-insertion in the bath.
I then insert the plate in the depositing bath in which I employ a hot solution
of sulphate of iron and ammonium chloride. A very efficient solution is composed
of 6 ounces of sulphate of iron and 3 ounces of ammonium chloride, to 1 gallon of
water. I preferably work the solution at a temperature of about 120 degrees
Fahrenheit. The plato forms the cathode whilst the anode consists of a bar of
Swedish or like pure iron. I employ a feeble current of electricity and continue
the same for a considerable period until a sufficient thickness of iron has been
deposited.
Before re-coating old plates by my improved process, I first entirely remove the
original coating of iron, by immersion, after the necessary cleaning of the surface,
in hot dilute sulphuric acid. The plate is then re-coated by passing it through the
striking and depositing baths in the manner herciu before described.
1 do not limit myself to the particular solution for the striking bath herein-
before named, or to the particularly named composition and temperature of the
depositing bath solution, but make such modifications as may be required to suit
the varying articles or metallic surfaces to be faced or coated.
Dend this th day of Muh 1905
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Electro-deposition of Iron on Copper
or other Metallio Surfaces.
I ARTHUR HIORNS of 67 Mayer Street, Hanley in the County of Stafford,
Electro-metallurgist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the facing of copper-plates or other metallic
Burlaces with iron.
In carrying out my invention 1 provide any suitable vat or dipping-tank into
which the cleansing solution consisting of half a pound of potash to one gallon of
water is placed, this solution is heated to a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit
more or lesa.
The plates after being passed through the cleansing solution are taken out and
scoured by means of a scouring-brush together with a mixture of soda-lime and
powdered pumice-stone, the passing through the cleansing solution and the
subsequent scouring as hereinbefore described is for the purpose cleaning all grease
and foreign substance from the plates.
After thoroughly scouring, the plates are next thoroughly washed in a bath of
clean water.
The plates are next immersed in a preliminary depositing solution consisting of
7 oz. of ammonio-sulphate of iron to one gallon of water, plates of Swedish or other
pure iron being hung in the bath to form the anode, tho copper-plate or other
inetallic plate forming the cathode. The copper or other metallic plates in the
preliminary bath are hung on a rod connected with the negative terminal of the
dynamo, a current from the dynamo of above five volts in intensity is then passed
through the solution until the copper or other metallic plates are entirely covered
with a preliminary very thin covering of iron, this preliminary depositing solution
is used at the ordinary temperature.
The plates are next taken out of bath and scoured (a second time) with soda-
lime and pumice-stone, this second scouring is done for the purpose of seeing if a
perfect metallic deposit has been obtained sufficient to convert the plates into that
state when they will be ready to receive a coating of any desired thickness, if the
deposit is irregular and imperfect the plates must again pass through the solution
aud again be scrubbed with pumice-stone, the immersion in the preliminary solution
is technically termed striking.
The plates are next immersed in the depositing solution proper, which consists of
six ounces of ferrous-sulphate and three ounces of ammonium chlorido (sal-
ammoniac) to one gallon of water, auch solution being kept at a temperature of
about 120 degrees Fahrenheit, a one volt current is passed through this solution in
the ordinary manner.
The depositing solution proper is heated up to about 120 degrees, as a new means
of quickly depositing iron on the plates to be covered.
The time required for the copper plates to remain in the depositing bath-proper
depends on the faintness or otherwise of the engraving made on such copper-plate,
a very fine cut plate requiring a less deposit than a coarse cut engraving.
When the plates have received a sufficient deposit they are removed from the
depositing-solution-proper and washed in hot water, the water being sufficiently hot
to convey heat to the plates so that the plates will when removed from the hot
water, dry without the use of a wiping-cloth.
When the plates are dry they are smeared with a thin coating of vaseline or
other equivalent greasy substance to prevent the deposited iron coating from
rusting.

page_text: Before re-coating old plates, that is to say plates that have been coated with a
deposit of iron in the manner herein described and have from wear become
imperfectly coated and in need of recoating, I remove the original coating in the
following manner.
The plates are first cleaned as hereinbefore described in relation to the potash
dipping bath, then scoured with soda-lime and pumice-stone, next washed in clear
water and afterwards immersed in a bath of diluted sulphuric acid, one of acid to
10 of water, such liquid being kept at a temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit
until every particle of iron has been removed, the copper-plate is then scoured with
pumice-stone and is quite ready to receive a new deposit.
If the plates should become discoloured on the surface in consequence of exposure
to air when a considerable number of plates have been handled, the discolouration
can be removed by dipping the plates in a dilute solution of potassium-cyanide and
afterwards taking them out of such solution and washing them in clean water.
I do not confine myself to the exact solution for striking-bath herein before
described or to the specific composition and temperatures herein mentioned, but
make such slight alteratious as may suit the different kinds of metallic surfaces to
be faced or coated undor this my improved method and process, therefore
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The improvements relating to the electro-deposition of iron on copper or
other metallic surfaces, by the use and combination of the several processes horein
described.
2nd. The scouring of metallic plates with soda-lime in the process of cleansing
such plates, as herein described.
3rd. The use of ammonia-sulphate of iron as the primary element of a striking-
bath for depositing iron ou copper-plates and on other metallic plates, as herein
described.
4th. The heating of the depositing solution herein described for the purpose of
quickening the deposit of iron on copper and other surfaces.
5th. The improved method of removing iron from metallic plates ready to receive
a new deposit by the use of a heated sulphurio avid bath, as herein described.
6th. The use of potassium-cyanide for cleaning copper-plates from stains ready
to receive iron deposit as hercin described.
Dated this 27th day of October 1895.
ALFRED WILLIAM TUrner,
(Enrolled Patent Agent,)
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.