Improvements in Anodes for Electrolytic Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Anodes for Electrolytic Purposes.
I, PETER JENSEN of No. 77 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me from abroad by Henrik Christian Fredrik Störmer of No. 5.
Zedlitzgade, Christiania, Norway, Mechanical Engineer) to be as follows:-
Carbon, which has been exposed to a very high temperature, is considered to be
the most suitable material for anodes used in electrolytic apparatus. But, as is
well known, carbon anodes are liable to be reduced to dust by the action of the
electric current, whereby expenses and interruptions are incurred for renewals and
the like.
I have found that the said destroying action of the current may be prevented by
coating the anodes with a foil of platinum or other metal, which is not acted upon.
by the electrolyte. I am well aware that prior to this, attempts have been made.
to construct anodes of metal coated with platinum; but such anodes do not possess.
the qualities of my anodes because the platinum coating on the metal body is
always somewhat porous unless thick and consequently expensive and the result:
will therefore be, that the underlying metal is dissolved by the electrolyte and
thereby the anodes destroyed.
When using carbon as the body and a foil of platinum as a coating, such
destruction is avoided, because it will do no harm if the electrolyte comes in
contact with the carbon, the greater part of the current passing through the
platinum only, so that the carbon only serves as a carrier for the platinum. The.
platinum foil may be fastened to the carbon in any suitable way, for instance,.
the edges of the foil may be cemented together where they meet and also to the
carbon by means of a nonconducting material or in any other way.
All kinds of carbon or carbon products, graphite and the like may be used.
It is to be noted that such anodes are not destroyed even when the electrolyte
penetrates into the carbon material and partially destroys the same, because the
carbon dust thereby formed will at once fill up the pores in the platinum, through.
which pores the electrolyte has obtained access to the carbon.
Dated this 29th day of June 1896
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Anodes for Electrolytic Purposes.
I, PETER JENSEN of No. 77 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a.
conmunication from Henrik Christian Fredrik Störmer of No. 5 Zedlitzgade,
Christiania Norway, Mechanical Engineer) and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement :-
Carbon which has been exposed to a very high temperature, is considered to bé

page_text: the most suitable material for anodes used in electrolytic apparatus. But as is
well known, carbon anodes are liable to be reduced to dust by the action of the
electric current, whereby expenses and interruptions are incurred for renewals and
the like.
The communicator has found that the said destroying action of the current may
be prevented by coating the anodes with foil of platinum or other metal which is
not acted upon by the electrolyte. I am well aware that prior to this attempts
have been made to construct anodes of metal coated with platinum; but such
anodes do not possess the qualities of anodes because the platinum coating on the
metal body is always somewhat porous unless thick and consequently expensive
.and the result will therefore be, that the underlying metal is dissolved by the
electrolyte and thereby the anodes destroyed.
When using carbon as the body and a foil of platinum as a coating such
destruction is avoided, because it will do no harm if the electrolyte comes in contact
with the carbon, the greater part of the current passing through the platinum only,
so that the carbon only serves as a carrier for the platinum. The platinum foil
may be fastened to the carbon in any suitable way, for instance, the edges of the
foil may be cemented together where they meet and also to the carbon by means
of a nonconducting material or in any other way. All kinds of carbon or carbon
products, graphite and the like may be used.
It is to be noted that such anodes are not destroyed even when the electrolyte
penetrates into the carbon material and partially destroys the same, because the
carbon dust thereby formed will at once fill up the pores in the platinum, through
which
àpores the electrolyte has obtained access to the carbon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is.
Carbon anodes for electrolytic purposes coated or covered with foil of platinum
or other metal which is not acted upon by the electrolyte.
Dated this 27th day of March 1897
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.