A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DEFOSITING ALLOYS OF NICKEL AND IRON BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fearn, of Aston, near Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Electro-metallurgist, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DEFOSITING ALLOYS OF NICKEL AND IRON
BY ELECTRICITY."
Sealed the 14th November 1871, and dated the 29th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fearn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th August 1871.
I, THOMAS FEARN, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Electro-metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF DEPOSITING ALLOYS OF
NICKEL AND IRON BY ELECTRICITY," to be as follows :—
The deposition of nickel upon other metals by electricity has hitherto
been principally applied for the purpose of protecting the articles coated
from atmospheric and other influences, and to enable them to resist
wear by friction in consequence of the hardness of the deposited nickel.

page_text: •
The colour of electro-deposited nickel is neither agreeable by itself, nor
does it contrast or harmonize pleasantly with that of gold, and as a
consequence electro-deposited nickel has been used only to a very
limited extent for ornamental purposes.
The object of my Invention is to give electro-deposited nickel an
agreeable colour, so as to fit it for use for ornamental purposes. This I
effect by depositing iron in combination or alloy with nickel by the
process herein-after explained. For this purpose I make in the fol-
lowing manner a solution of nickel and iron, from which the deposition
is to be effected:-I dissolve twenty-four parts by weight of muriate of
ammonia in one hundred and sixty parts by weight of water, and I
saturate the said solution with protoxide of nickel. From this solution
a good deposit of nickel may be obtained with a moderately intense
battery power. I then take the same quantity of a liko solution of
muriate of ammonia, and mix the two solutions together. In order to
deposit from this solution the alloy of nickel and iron it is necessary to
charge it with iron in addition to tho nickel which it contains. This I
prefer to do by clectricity. For this purpose I employ an anode of iron,
by which an electrical current from a voltaic battery or other source of
electricity is passed through the solution until the required alloy of
nickel and iron is deposited at the cathode. This is ascertained by
observing the colour of the deposit. As soon as the required deposit is
obtained the solution is ready for use. In using the said solution for
obtaining a deposit of nickel and iron I employ two anodes, one of
nickel and the other of iron. If the deposited alloy gives any indication a
of either metal being in excess I raise the anode of that metal either
wholly or partially from the solution, and work with the other anode
until the required deposit is produced.
2
In depositing an alloy of nickel and iron upon articles of iron or steel
I previously coat them with a deposit of copper or by preference of 3
brass.
Although the method described of preparing the solution of nickel
and iron works satisfactorily, and is the best with which I am ac-
quainted, yet the method of its preparation may be modified in various
ways. For example, the solution may be charged with nickel by the 3
uso of an anode of nickel instead of by dissolving oxide of nickel
therein. Or the solution of nickel and iron may be made separately,
and afterwards mixed in the required proportions.

page_text: By combining iron with the deposit of nickel according to my
Invention a clearer and more agreeable tone of colour in the deposit is
obtained, and the nickel thus combined with iron contrasts agreeably
with gold in ornamental work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Fearn in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 16th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
FEARN, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Electro-
metallurgist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Fearn, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Fearn, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Thomas Fearn, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF DEPOSITING ALLOYS OF NICKEL AND IRON BY ELECTRICITY," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Fearn, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Fearn, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-

page_text: The deposition of nickel upon other metals by electricity has hitherto
been principally applied for the purpose of protecting the articles coated
from atmospheric and other influences, and to enable them to resist
wear by friction in consequence of the hardness of the deposited nickel.
The colour of the electro-deposited nickel is neither agreeable by itself,
nor does it contrast or harmonize pleasantly with that of gold, and as a
consequence electro-deposited nickel has been used only to a very
limited extent for ornamental purposes.
The object of my Invention is to give electro-deposited nickel an
agreeable colour, so as to fit it for use for ornamental purposes. This I
effect by depositing iron in combination or alloy with nickel by the
process hercin-after explained. For this purpose I make in the fol-
lowing manner a solution of nickel and iron, from which the deposition
is to be effected :-I dissolve twenty-four parts by weight of muriate of
ammonia, otherwise called chloride of ammonium, in one hundred and
sixty parts by weight. of water, and I saturate the said solution with
protoxide of nickel. In dissolving the protoxido of nickel in the solution
of muriate of ammonia I heat the liquid to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
From this solution a good deposit of nickel may be obtained with a
moderately intense battery power. I then take the same quantity of a
like solution of muriate of ammonia, and mix the two solutions together.
In order to deposit from this solution the alloy of nickel and iron it
is necessary to charge it with iron in addition to the nickel which it
contains. This I prefer to do by electricity. For this purpose I employ
an anode of iron, by which an electrical current from a voltaic battery,
or other source of electricity, is passed through the solution until the
required alloy of nickel and iron is deposited at the cathode. This is
ascertained by observing the colour of the deposit. As soon as the
required deposit is obtained the solution is ready for use.
peroxide of iron forms upon the surface of the solution, but this does
not interfere with the working of the process. In using the said
solution for obtaining a deposit of nickel and iron I employ two anodes,
one of nickel, and the other of iron. If the deposited alloy gives any
indication of either metal being in excess I raise the anode of that
metal either wholly or partially from the solution, and work with the
other anode until the required deposit is produced.
A film of
The voltaic battery which I prefer to use in carrying my Invention
into effect is that known as Wollaston's battery, that is a battery com.

page_text: posed of plates of amalgamated zinc and copper, two or more pairs
being employed, but other voltaic batteries or other sources of electricity
may be used.
For obtaining quickly thin deposits of the alloy an intense electrical
current may be employed, even causing copious evolution of gas from
the deposited surface without detriment to the appearance of the
deposit, but for giving a strong coating a weaker current is necessary.
The coating of the alloy upon "parcel" gilt work, that is articles
coated only in parts, is an excellent substitute for the tarnished effect
produced on silver plated articles, and commonly called oxydizing.
For stopping off "parcel" gilt work I use any suitable varnish
mixed with some colouring powder; rouge or Prussian blue answers
very well for this purpose, the colour enabling the varnisher to see
better how to apply the varnish. The varnish may be removed from
the work after it has been coated with the alloy by means of a hot
solution of potash or by oil of turpentine.
In depositing an alloy of nickel and iron upon articles of iron or steel
I previously coat them with a deposit of copper or by preference of
brass.
Although the method described of preparing the solution of nickel
and iron works satisfactorily, and is the best with which I am ac-
quainted, yet the method of its preparation may be modified in various
ways. For example, tho solution may be charged with nickel by the
use of an anode of nickel instead of dissolving oxide of nickel therein.
Or the solution of nickel and iron may be made separately, and
afterwards mixed in the required proportions.
By combining iron with the deposit of nickel according to my
Invention a clearer and more agreeable tone of colour in the deposit is
obtained, and the nickel thus combined with iron contrasts agreeably
O with gold in ornamental work.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described, as the
same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention ;
5 but I claim as my Invention the new or improved method of depositing
alloys of nickel and iron by electricity herein-before described, that is

page_text: to say, depositing iron in combination or alloy with nickel from
solution of nickel and iron, the said solution being prepared and the
process of deposition conducted substantially as described.
In witness whereof I, the said Thomas Fearn, have hereunto set
my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
THOMAS FEARN. (L.S.)