Improvements in Diaphragms for Electric Cells.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Diaphragms for Electric Cells.
I, ERNEST ARTHUR LE SUEUR, of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, Dominion of
Canada, 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:-
Diaphragms made according to my invention are designed more particularly
for electrolytic cells to be employed for effecting the decomposition of metallic
chlorides particularly alkaline chlorides but I do not limit myself to using the
diaphragms in such cells as they may be employed in other electric cells to which
they are, or may be, applicable.
The object of my invention is to obtain a diaphragm of low resistance which in
the presence of a destructive agent such as chlorine will be preserved intact and in
working condition for a longer period than low resistance diaphragms hitherto
known. With this object I use for the diaphragm or as a component part of it
coagulated albumen.
When the coagulated albumen forms a component part only of the diaphragm
that is, is combined with a supporting or strengthening material, I may proceed as
follows I take one pound of albumen preferably the commercial article known
as blood albumen (although any kind of albumen may be used) and I dissolve
it in two pounds of water which may be of an ordinary temperature or of
such temperature as will not prevent the dissolving of the albumen by
coagulation. Usually I prefer that a température of 100 degrees Fahrenheit
should not be exceeded.
The solution thus obtained is of the consistency of a thick syrup and for the
purpose of clearing it from lumps and foreign substances it is preferably, though
not necessarily, strained through any suitable strainer such for example as coarse
cotton cloth. I apply the albumen in this condition to a sheet of material, such
as paper for example, which may be conveniently effected by immersing the paper
in the albumen solution and then removing it and allowing the surplus albumen
to drain off therefrom or by spreading the solution on the paper by means of a brush
or in any other suitable manner. The albumen may be applied to one side of the
paper only or to both sides as desired.
The essential feature of my invention is the film or layer of albumen, the sheet
of the other material or materials employed being more particularly for the
purpose of supporting and strengthening the albumen layer and being really a form
on which the albumen layer is made. The above method of making the diaphragm
may therefore be varied by employing sheets of other material in place of paper
such for example as animal or vegetable parchment, bibulous paper, woven or felted
fabric or asbestos sheets or combinations of these materials. Two sheets of the
material employed may be used, one side of each sheet being coated with the
albumen and the two sides thus coated being laid together forming a diaphragm
consisting of a layer of paper or equivalent material on either surface with an
interposed layer of albumen.
The coagulation of the albumen can be effected (either with or without first
drying it) most conveniently by heat although other well known methods of
coagulation, such as by treatment with solutions of certain metallic salts, may be
employed.
A method which I find works satisfactorily is to dry the sheets and then place a
large number of them in a steam tight chest and heat with dry steam at about 5 lbs.
gauge pressure for an hour or thereabouts.
I may make the diaphragm of coagulated albumen alone a suitable method of

page_text: doing this being to place the albumen solution between two sheets of oiled glass
and then coagulate it, afterwards removing the glass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A diaphragm for an electric cell consisting of or comprising a layer, sheet or
film of coagulated albumen substantially as herein before described.
2. A diaphragm for an electric cell consisting of a layer, sheet or film of
coagulated albumen combined with supporting or strengthening material or
inaterials substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 7th day of July 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.