An Improved Process of Preparing Non-metallic Substances for Electro Plating.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Preparing Non-metallic Substances for
Electro Plating.
We THOMAS MORRIS ASH, and HERBERT NICOL WELDON, of Union
Chambers Temple Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Electricians
and Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the coating or plating with metal of non-metallic
articles, such as paper, papier-mache, glass, china, and other fibrous or textile
articles or natural objects, such as the leaves of plants wood in various forms, or
a combination of these or other non-metallic articles.
This invention consists in coating non-metallic articles with a coating of silver
or other suitable metal by the following means, taking for illustration silver :-
First. A solution of nitrate of silver, and sodium potassic tartrate is prepared in
equal or suitable proportions to which is added a little alcohol if found prefer-
able, although this is not absolutely necessary. This solution for convenience is
hereinafter referred to as solution "A."
Second. A solution of nitrate of silver, and ammonia in suitable proportions is
prepared, this solution for convenience is hereinafter referred to as solution "B."
The article to be coated is first covered with varnish or other suitable medium
and then immersed in a mixture of solutions "A" and "B" in equal or other
suitable proportions, when a deposit of silver is obtained serving as a rapid
conducting medium for the deposit of copper or other suitable metals electro-
lytically in any of the usual ways.
The object of this invention being to obtain a metallic deposit of silver upon the
article to be coated, we do not bind ourselves to use the foregoing solutions
but might use other means of obtaining the same result for the application of our
invention.
If the varnish or other medium should not be found necessary the article may
be introduced into solution "A" and "B" direct.
In a similar manner other metals may be used if found preferable for producing
the same results.
In the case of absorbent articles it may be found advisable to render them
nou-absorbent by means of auy suitable vehicle.
For the purpose of illustration we will describe our invention with reference to
the coating or plating of a wineglass, as from this description the application of
the invention will be clearly understood.
The wineglass being first of all covered with varnish or other suitable medium,
or if found not necessary is then cleaned, and then immersed in a mixture of "A
and "B" solutions in equal or suitable proportiions when the wineglass will be
found to be gradually coated with a bright deposit of silver, the article is then
withdrawn. and is then ready to be submitted to the usual electro-plating
processes.
Dated the 31st day of January 1896.
THOS. M. ASH.
HERBERT NICOL WELDON.

page_text: An Improved Process of Preparing Non-metallic Substances for
Electro Plating.
We, THOMAS MORRIS ASH, and HERBERT NICOL WELDON, of Unioc
Chambers, Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Electricians
and Engineers, 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 relates to the preparation of non-metallic articles such as paper,.
papier maché, glass, china, and fibrous or textile articles or natural objects such as
the leaves of plants, woods in various forms, or a combination of these or other
non-metallic articles in order that they may be readily electro plated.
The invention consists in coating non-metallic articles with a coating of silver
by the following means.
First. A solution of nitrate of silver and sodium potassic tartrate is prepared
in equal or suitable proportions.
As an example say 24 grains of nitrate of silver may be dissolved in water,
and to this would be added 24 grains of sodium potassic tartrate.
This solution is for convenience hereafter referred to as solution A.
Second. A solution of nitrate of silver and ammonia in suitable proportions is
prepared.
As an example 35 grains of nitrate of silver is dissolved in water and to this
solution preferably pure ammonia is slowly added until the solution becomes
clear, after which a further proportion of say about 38 grains of nitrate of silver
is added.
This solution is for convenience hereinafter referred to as solution B.
The proportion of water to form above solutions may vary considerably but
owing to the fact that when they are combined the whole of the silver in solution
is deposited in a metallic state it is geuerally preferable to use only sufficient water
to dissolve the salts, although good results may be attained, when each solution is
formed by the addition of water up to say 18 ounces.
If the article to be coated or plated is impervious to the action of acids, and is
to be coated or plated on all sides so as practically to be enveloped, it may after
cleaning be directly immersed in a mixture of solutions A and B preferably in
equal proportions when a deposit of pure silver in a bright metallic state will
more or less rapidly take place.
When the article is sufficiently covered it is withdrawn from the bath, rinsed in
clean water, and dried, when it is ready to receive an electrolytic deposit of metal
by any of the ordinary processes.
If on the other hand the article is pervious or likely to be injuriously affected
by the action of the solutions in which it may be placed, such for example as lace,
flowers, fish or other vegetable or animal substances, then before immersion in the
solutions A and B it is covered or coated with a thin impervious covering such as
copal varnish or other suitable medium which may conveniently be sprayed on, and
before such varnish hardens and while it is still in a sticky or "tacky condition,
the article is immersed in the solutions and subsequently dried, then rinsed, then
again dried, and finally electro plated in the usual way. A somewhat similar
procedure is adopted when the article is not to be entirely encased in the silver, say
when only one side is to be coated, then that side is varnished as just described and
when the article is removed froin solutions A and B it is dried and the silver on
the un-varnished side is rubbed or brushed off.

page_text: When using solutions A and B in a concentrated state or even when consider-
ably diluted it is at times preferable to conduct them separately and in small
quantities to the common receptacle in which they are mixed and force or spray
then after combination on to the article instead of dipping the article in the
Bolution, as with a spray there is rapid evaporation and the chemical deposition of
the metallic silver is accelerated and less solution is wasted.
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.-
1. The improved process of preparing non-metallic substances for electric
plating consisting in submitting them to the action of a bath or spray prepared
from nitrate of silver, sodium potassic tartrate ammonia and water as described.
2. The improved process of preparing non-metallic substances for electro
plating consisting in first varnishing or coating them to render them impervious
and then submitting them to the action of a bath or spray prepared from nitrate of
silver, sodium potassic tartrate, ammonia and water as described.
3. The improved process of preparing non-metallic substances for electro.
plating as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1896.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicants.