An Improved Anode or other Electrode for Use in Electrolysis and Process of Making same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Anode or other Electrode for Use in Electrolysis and
Process of Making same.
I, ISAIAH LEWIS ROBERTS, of 141, Broadway, New York, United States of
America, Electro-Chemist, 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:-
Heretofore anodes have been made of carbon particles bound together by a
carbonizable binding material which was subsequently carbonized or they have
been held together by resin with which they were heated and cooled under pres-
sure, and they have also been held in form or shape by a bag or wall.
I have discovered a more efficient method of binding the particles of carbon
together, which makes a more durable anode.
The accompanying drawing represents an apparatus for carrying out my
invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a cross
sectional view thereof. Similar letters of reference designate corresponding
parts in both figures.
In carrying out my method, I make an intimate mixture of carbon particles
and glass particles; the size of the carbon particles I prefer to be those which
will go through screens between twenty and one hundred mesh, although ordi-
nary pulverized carbon may be used. I prefer not to use any particles which
will pass through a one hundred mesh sieve. I prefer the glass to be pulverized
as fine as possible. I mix the screened carbon with the glass dust in such pro-
portions that when the glass is fuzed and pressed it will fill or partially fill the
interstices in the carbon. Having made the mixture, indicated in the drawings
by the letter a, I place the whole in a thin sheet iron pan b of the dimensions
which it is desired to make the anode. The sheet iron should be quite thin, and
be liquid-tight in the bottom. I now place the pan and its contents in a furnace,
preferably an electric furnace, and heat it and its contents until the whole is
hot enough to make the glass quite liquid. I then place it in an iron box or
mould made of five parts, the ends of the box or mould being represented by the
letters cc and the sides by the letters dd. The fifth part is a loose bottom; e.
I place on top of the carbon and glass a thin sheet of iron f of the same thick-
ness as the pan. This mould is heated red hot before the red hot pan and con-
tents is set in it. I have also a red hot plunger g which fits loosely in the box;
this I place on the cover f of the pan. I then place the mould in a second iron
nould m which is cold and here shown to be constructed in sections provided
with lugs h, through which pass fastening bolts. Asbestos, k, or other suitable
on-conducting material being interposed between the two moulds. I then place
he whole on the base plate of a hydraulic press and press down the plunger
vith a pressure sufficient to force the particles of granulated carbon against
ach other, squeezing the molten glass into the interstices between the carbon
articles and if there is an excess of it, forcing it out of the mould around the
lunger. I prefer not to use any more than enough glass to bind the carbon
'מ
877

page_text: particles together. I retain the pressure on the mould until the glass has solidi-
fied, and then I remove the hot mould from the cold one and open it and remove
the sheet iron pan b, which contains the anode. I next remove the sheet iron
from the contained anode by either peeling it off by force after cutting its edges
with a cold chisel, or by placing it in a bath of acid, which will dissolve it off,
and thus leave a clean plate of carbon and glass which is a good conductor of
electricity. The surface is somewhat improved for contact with liquids if it is
removed, which may be done by an emery wheel or other hard abrader, or by
heating it in a hot solution of caustic soda.
To make the anode any kind of carbon may be used, but I prefer anthracite
of coal which has been previously highly heated in a retort. However, the
anthracite may be carbonized sufficiently, if heated hot enough with the glass,
thus making one heating do for both carbonizing and pressing.
The object of using the outer cold mould is to strengthen the inner hot one,
and the use of the sheet iron is to prevent the molten glass from coming in
contact with the hot mould and sticking to it.' The object of the hot mould is to
keep the glass from being chilled on the surface before it can be pressed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The process of making an electrode, which consists in heating a mixture
of pulverized glass and carbon, and then subjecting the mixture to pressure while
the glass is in a soft or plastic condition, thereby causing the adherence of the
glass particles, substantially as specified.
2. The process of making an electrode, which consists in heating a mixture
of pulverized glass and anthracite coal and then subjecting the mixture to pres-
sure while the glass is in a soft or plastic condition, thereby causing the, adher-
ence of the glass particles, substantially as specified.
3. An electrode composed of a compressed mixture of pulverized glass and
carbon, the particles of glass being adherent to each other and acting as a
binder, substantially as specified.
4. An electrode composed of a compressed mixture of pulverized glass and
coked anthracite coal, the particles of glass being adherent to each other and
acting as a binder, substantially as specified.
T
1900
HERBERT HADDAN, & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.