GB575148A - Improvements in and relating to the metallisation of solid non-porous non-conductivematerials - Google Patents

Abstract

575,148. Metallizing non-conductive materials. CALLENDER - SUCHY DEVELOPMENTS, Ltd., and SUCHY, C. T. Feb. 29, 1944, No. 3713. [Class 41] In the metallizing of glass and other non- porous, solid, non-conductive materials, good adhesion of the deposit to the glass is effected by first rendering the surface thereof porous or rough, and introducing electrically-conductive material into the pores or recesses, whereupon the surface is freed from conductive particles to render it non-conductive, while leaving conductive particles in the pores or recesses, electro-deposited metal then being applied. The invention thus uses the process of Specification 572,071. The pre-treatment may be abrasion by means of pumice or carborundum powder, scoring, engine turning, mechanical pitting or chemical etching, and may be preceded by brush-cleaning and degreasing and cleaning with caustic soda or trichlorethylene. After the roughening, the material must be dried and freed from loose particles, whereupon the treatment set out in Specification 572,071 is applied to produce an electrolytic coating of copper followed, if required, by one of a noble metal. In treating glass, the surface is first cleaned, then treated with frosting powder, degreased and cleaned with caustic soda, and washed. The plating current was initially ¢ amp./dm<2> at 1¢-3 volts, these figures being later increased to 1 amp. at 4-6 volts. The temperature may be 18‹-20‹C. but could be increased to speed up the process.