US1466837A - Tin sponge article of manufacture and method of producing and utilizing the same - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1923. 1,465.83?

E. KARDQS TIN SPONGE ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING AND UTILIZING" THE SAME Filed Dec. 27. 1919 INVENTOR B7 c g \|\\M ms ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

EMAN'U'EL KARDOS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO METAL & THERMIT CORPORATION, OF CHROME, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TIN SPONGE ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ,AND

UTILIZING THESAME.

Application filed December 27, 1919; Serial No. 347,753.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMANUEL Kenoos, a citizen of Hungary and resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Tin Sponge Articles of Manufacture and Methods of Producing and Utilizing the Same, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to the protection of tin sponge against the effects of oxidation, and to this end comprises a novel article of manufacture and the method of producing and utilizing the same, by coating or impregnating tin sponge with chloride of zinc, and, preferably compressing the tin sponge so treated into briquette form, and ultimately recovering the tin in solid form and substantial purity by. melting the admire ture at a temperature approximating the melting point. of the tin and below the boiling point of the zinc chloride, and finally separately withdrawing the molten tin and zinc chloride.

in the past the operation of melting tin sponge has been diflicult, expensive and wasteful of tin, because of the large surface which the sponge ofiers to contact with the air, which results in rapid oxidation of the tin even when the sponge has been hydraulically compressed. In fact, in order to melt the sponge without serious loss due to oxidation, it has been found necessary to efiect the melting operation under conditions of total exclusion of air,-and usually with the employment of. reducing agents such as carbon and the like, which is effective to reduce any tin oxide which may be formed or which maybe present. This latter operation, however, can be carried out successfully only at a high temperature, and

with the concurrent formation of slag,

of the objections and dificulties aforesaidare eliminated and it ispossible to prepare the tin sponge so that the same may be kept indefinitely without danger of impairment by oxidation or deterioration, and when 1t is desired to recover the tin in merchantable form the composite body of tin sponge and impregnating zinc chloride may be readily melted at. a relativelyllowv zinc chloride may be efi'epted in various ways, as by dipping the sponge in a solution of the chloride, spraying the spon e with the solution, or \by mixing and agitating the sponge and the solution in a suitable receptacle until the solution permeates the sponge and covers the surfaces of the latter. Preferablv the impregnated or coated sponge is compressed into briquettes of suitable size which facilitates the handling and storage of individual bodies of sponge and also removes any excessive liquid. When it is desired to recover the tin and also the impregnating zinc chloride the bodies or briquettes of impregnated tin sponge'are placed in a suitable vessel, preferably an open steel kettle, and heated to a temperature of approximately which temperature both the tin and, the.

chloride of zinc melts. The chloride of zinc,

being of lower specific gravity. than the tin, will float on top of the molten tin and protect the latter completely against the oxidizing effect of the air. The water associated with the zinc chloride will evaporate,

but the chloride of zinc will be left intact, provided the temperature is not raised above 230 C. at

the boiling point of the salt, viz: 262 C.

After the first batch hasbeen melted the impregnated briquettes or bodies 1 of tin sponge and chloride of zinc may be added from time to time, and as the briquettes or bodies have a lower specific weight than metallic tin but a higher one than the zinc chloride they will be entirely submerged in the molten zinc chloride and thus be pro tected against any oxidizingefiect. The

derB zinc chloride may be ladled ofi or otherwise withdrawn'from time to time in a fused state and may be used again for treating further quantities of tin spon e, and any metal parholes of tin entrappe in the same may be subsequently recovered. Likewise the molten tin ma be withdrawn by any suitable means and allowed to cool, preferably under conditions which will reduce superficial oxi dation to a minimum.

A simple and effective form of apparatus for carrying out the operation aforesaid is ustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which A represents a metallic kettle or receptacle having an overflow spout C. Centrally mounted within the kettle A and passing through the cover thereof, is a metallic cylinrovided with anoverflow spout D, said cy inder being preferably open at the bottom and rovided with lateral peripheral orifices to allbw the molten metal to flow into the kettle A. The upper portionof the cylinder B is provided with splash plates E, E,-

and with a thermometer F. 'WhlCh dips into the molten zinc chloride and affords a ready check on the temperature of the molten bath. The apparatus as described may be fired b gas, oil or any other suitable means whic is capable of ready regulation to maintain a B through the opening in the top thereof bethe desired temperature, slightly in excess of that required to melt the tin, as hereinbefore described.

The tin sponge coated or. im regnated with chloride of zinc, and pre erably in briquette form, is charged into the cylinder tween the splash plates E, E, and heat applied to the kettle A sufiicient to melt the tin,

I but below the boiling point of zinc chloride.

. ride.

The molten tin sinks to the bottom of the cylinder B and then passes out into the kettle A where it accumulates until it overflows at spout C. The molten zinc chloride, however, being of li hter specific gravit than the molten tin, oats on the latter and is retained in the cylinder B, as indicated, so that when additional quantities of im regnated tin sponge are charged into the apparatus through the top of cylinder B they are completely submerged in the molten zinc chlo- As indicated, as the molten zinc chloride accumulates the excess overflows the entrance of spout D and is discharged from the ratus. v

he principal object of treating the tin sponge with zinc chloride is to prevent 0x1- dation of the metallic sponge before and dur mg the process of melting, but especially be- 1. The method of'protecting tin sponge which comprises coating the same with chloride of 'zinc.

2. The method of protecting tin sponge which com rises impregnatin and coating the same with a solution of chloride of zinc.

3. The-method of rotecting tin spon against oxidation during the melting oft e same which consists in impregnating the sponge with chloride of .zinc, and heatl the sameto a temperature below the boiling point of the chloride of zinc.

'4. The method of protecting tin sponge against oxidation during the melting of the same which consists in impregnating the sponge with chloride of zinc, compressing the mixture into bri uettes, and heating the briquettes in a suita le vessel to a temperature approximating that of the melting-point of the tin.

5. The method of protecting tin sponge against oxidation during the meltin of the same which consists in impregnating the sponge with chloride of zinc, compressing the mixture into briquettes, heating the briquettes in a suitable vessel to a temperature approximating that of the melting point of the tin, and separately withdrawing the molten tin and zinc chloride.

6. An article of manufacture comprisin a body of tin sponge coated with chloride 0 ZIIIC.

7. An article of manufacture comprisin a compressed body of tin sponge coated with chloride of zinc.

8. An article of manufacture comprising an admixture of tin sponge and chloride of zinc compressed into briquette form.

Signed at Chrome in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey this 18th day of December A. D. 1919.

EMANUEL KARDOS.

begins and also. to I of the metallic tin, as.

as the impregnating zinc

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