Improvements in the Cleaning and Preparation of Metallic Sheets and other articles and in the Coating of same with Lead or Alloys of same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cleaning and Preparation of Metallic Sheets
and other articles and in the Coating of same with Lead or
Alloys of same.
A communication from abroad by THE AJAX METAL COMPANY, of 46 to 52,
Richmond Street, Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America.
I, WILLIAM PENNINGTON BREEDING of 30 Montague Place, Russell Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
In Specification to Letters Patent No. 3933 of 1883 is described a certain
improvement in the treatment of lead and certain other metals to impart to them
the property of adhering to and amalgamating with other metals, and in Speci-.
fication to Letters Patent No. 7777 of 1891 is described a certain improvement in
the coating of metal articles with other metals and alloys.
The present invention is a development of the processes above referred to as a
result of the working of said processes and of various experiments carried out
regarding the same..
In carrying out the cleaning and preparation of the plates, sheets, or other
articles according to the present invention the following is the process adopted.
The articles are connected up with a source of electricity so as to form the anode
in a bath composed of muriatic acid and hydrofluoric acid, to which is added
The cathode
sufficient water to reduce it to about 5 degrees by hydrometer test.
may be the lining of the tank. This solution is heated to about ninety degrees
Fahrenheit, and the current is continued until the impurities, such as the oxides,
are judged to be removed from the surfaces of the plates. The plates are then
removed and immersed in hot water in which they are allowed to remain for a short
time in order to dilute the acid remaining in the pores of the metal. The plates or
articles are then immersed in a heated solution of caustic soda or lime water to
further destroy the acid secreted in the pores and are removed and again washed or
rinsed in hot water.
A fluxing solution is now made by melting together about equal parts of zinc and
tin and pouring it gradually into water to granulate it. To this granulated
material is added muriatic acid and chloride of ammonium until the acid will
dissolve no more of the metals (the remainder of which may be thrown into the lead
bath) and to the solution so formed water is added until it shows about from 55 to
60 degrees by hydrometer test. The articles are immersed in this solution which
should be kept at a temperature of preferably about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and
are then removed and dried in a suitable oven until all moisture is expelled.
The articles are now ready for coating, and where this is to be of lead the molten
bath is composed about as follows:-The desired quantity of lead having been
melted, a small proportion of muriate ammonia or sal-ammoniac is introduced into
same, preferably by placing the sal-ammoniac in an iron tube, the lower portion of
which is tee shaped and perforated, and thrusting it to the bottom of the melting
pot or kettle in which it should be allowed to remain until the bubbling ceases
when the tube is withdrawn, and if a further quantity of the sal ammoniac is
required, the operation is repeated until the whole amount has been introduced.
In a similar manner a small quantity of commercial arsenic is introduced and also a
small quantity of phosphate of lead.
About equal proportions each of borax, sal ammoniac, and muriate of tin, each of
which have been previously well dried, are then mixed together and are added to

page_text: the molten bath by means of the tube, when if the metal content of the bath is not
fluid enough more sal ammoniac and borax in about equal parts may be added. A
pole of green wood (preferably oak) with the bark on it is then introduced into
the bath for the purpose of getting rid of the carbon, and purifying the metal, said
pole being allowed to remain for some time if desired. Into the bath so prepared
the articles to be coated are immersed and removed in the usual way, and are
treated if desired to any of the after operations to which. coated metal articles are..
subjected..
Dated this 15th day of December 1891.
PHILİP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cleaning and Preparation of Metallic Sheets
and other articles and in the Coating of same with Lead or
Alloys of same:
A communication from abroad by THE AJAX METAL COMPANY, of 46 to 52,
Richmond Street; Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
1, WILLIAM PENNINGTON BREEDING of 30 Montague Place, Russell Square in
the County of Middlesex, Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In Specification to Letters Patent No. 3933 of 1883 is described a certain
improvement in the treatment of lead and certain other metals to impart to them
the property of adhering to and amalgamating with other metals, and in Speci-
fication to Letters Patent No. 7777 of 1891 is described a certain improvement in
the coating of metal articles with other metals and alloys.
The present invention is a development of the processes above referred to as a
result of the working of said processes and of various experiments carried out
regarding the same.
In carrying out the cleaning and preparation of the plates, sheets, or other
articles according to the present invention the following is the process adopted.
The articles are connected up with a source of electricity so as to form the anode
in a bath composed of about 3 parts of muriatic acid and 1 part of hydrofluoric
acid, to which is added sufficient water to reduce it to about 5 degrees by hydro-
meter test. The cathode may be the lining of the tank. This solution is heated to
about ninety degrees Fahrenheit, and the current is continued until the impurities,
such as the oxides, are judged to be removed from the surfaces of the plates or
the like. The plates are then removed and immersed in water heated to about
120 degrees Fahrenheit, in which they are allowed to remain for several minutes in
order to dilute the acid remaining in the pores of the metal. The plates or articles
are then immersed in a solution of caustic soda or lime water also leated to about
120 degrees Fahrenheit, to further destroy the acid secreted in the pores, and are
removed and again washed or rinsed in hot water.
A fluxing solution is now made by melting together about equal parts of zinc and
tin and pouring it gradually into water to granulate it. To this granulated material
is added muriatic acid and about 2 ounces of chloride of ammonium to every
10 pounds of metal until the acid will dissolve no more of the metals, (the remainder
of which may be thrown into the lead bath) and to the solution so formed water is
added until it shows about from 55 to 60 degrees by hydrometer test. The articles
are immersed in this solution, which for working purposes should be kept at a
temperature of preferably about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and are then removed and
dried in a suitable oven until all moisture is expelled.

page_text: The articles are now ready for coating, and where this is to be of lead the molten
bath is composed about as follows:-
The lead is first melted, the temperature being about 800 degrees Fahrenheit,
and one and a half ounces of muriate ammonia or sal ammoniac to every 100 lbs. of
lead is added. The preferable way to effect this addition is to employ an iron tube
about two inches in diameter and five inches long perforated with a number of
about quarter inch holes. This short length of tube is secured to a three eighth
inch iron rod about five feet long, the whole forming a tee shaped instrument.
After having ascertained the weight of the lead in the kettle or bath a proportion
of the muriate ammonia is placed in the tube and the latter is pushed to the bottom
of the kettle and allowed to remain until the bubbling caused by its introduction
has ceased, after which the operation is repeated until all the quantity has been
introduced.
In a similar manner about half an ounce of commercial arsenic to every 100 lbs.
of lead is next introduced, and in the same way about one and a half ounces of
phosphate of lead to every 100 lbs. of lead.
For every 100 lbs. of lead about eight ounces each of borax, sal ammoniac and
muriate of tin are now taken. These after having been previously well dried are
mixed together and are added to the molten bath by means of the tube, when if the
metal content of the bath is not fluid enough more sal ammoniac and borax in about
equal parts may be added. A pole of green wood (preferably oak) with the bark
on it is then introduced into the bath for the purpose of getting rid of the carbon,
and purifying the inetal, said pole being allowed to remain for some time, say over
night if desired. Into the bath so prepared the articles to be coated are immersed
and removed in the usual way, and are treated if desired to any of the after
operations to which coated metal articles are subjected.
As a flux for the pot on ordinary work the following may be used:-
One gallon of the fluxing solution heretofore described, to which has been added
eight ounces of muriate of tin and eight ounces of sal ammoniac, all being heated
to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit to dissolve the muriate of tin and ammonia.
As a flux for steel the following may be used
:-
One quart of the fluxing solution to which has been added three ounces of sal
ammoniac and three ounces of borax. The addition may be made by dissolving the
materials in warm muriatic acid and then adding them to the solution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to ne
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
--
1. The improvements in the cleaning and preparation of metallic sheets and other
articles, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improvements in the coating of metallic sheets and other articles with
lead or alloys of same, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The improvements in the cleaning and preparation of metallic sheets and other
articles, and in the coating of same with lead or alloys of same, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 15th day of October 1892.