US1574289A - Protective coating for magnesium - Google Patents

Protective coating for magnesium Download PDF

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Publication number
US1574289A
US1574289A US614304A US61430423A US1574289A US 1574289 A US1574289 A US 1574289A US 614304 A US614304 A US 614304A US 61430423 A US61430423 A US 61430423A US 1574289 A US1574289 A US 1574289A
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United States
Prior art keywords
magnesium
coating
metal
protective coating
anode
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US614304A
Inventor
Lewis J Keeler
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AMERICAN MAGNESIUM Corp
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AMERICAN MAGNESIUM CORP
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Priority to US614304A priority Critical patent/US1574289A/en
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25DPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D11/00Electrolytic coating by surface reaction, i.e. forming conversion layers

Definitions

  • My invention relates to a protective coating for magnesium metal and high magnesium alloys.
  • the coating which I produce nesium.
  • the coating is produced by immersing the metal in a solution of hydrofluoric acid. This is preferably done by making the metal to be coated the anode in an electrolytic cell, in which [the electrolyte is a hydrofluoric acid solution. Although various strengths of the acid may be used, an approximately 4.8% acid solution has been found to be the most suitable.
  • the metal to be coated is first cleaned by some suitable means such as by scratch brushing or by dipping in acids, preferably in dilute nitric acid. The nitric acid has the special advantage of giving the metal a very bright luster. If acid is used in cleaning, the metal must subsequently be washed well with running water. It is then ready for the coating operation.
  • the article is then made the positive pole and serves as the anode of the electrolytic cell.
  • the cathode of this cell may be constructed of any material which is an electrical conductor. I have found magnesium metal or carbon'to be best adapted for this purpose.
  • the coating as formed on the metal from present information is believed to be either magnesium fluoride or oXy-fluoride or possibly a mixture of the two.
  • the coating may also be obtained by simply allowing the metal to remain in a solution of hydrofluoric acid. The action is very slow, taking several weeks to obtaina fairly good protective coating, but the characteristics of the coating seem to be the same as those obtained in the electrolytic bath.
  • Water soluble fluoride salts such as potassium fluoride, may also be used as an electrolyte in place of hydrofluoric acid. In fact, any composition may be used which under suitable conditions will liberate nascent fluorine in contact with the metal to be coated.
  • direct current in the electrolytic cell alternating current can also be used.

Description

Patented Feb. 23, 1926.
UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.
LEWIS J. KEELER, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN MAG- NESIUM CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.
No Drawing.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Lewis J. Kinsman, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Coatings for Magnesium, of which the following is a specification.
My invention relates to a protective coating for magnesium metal and high magnesium alloys. The coating which I produce nesium.
by my process is practically transparent and microscopic in depth and presents a surface having the characteristic appearance of mag- This coating prevents the metal from tarnishing even under severe atmos pheric conditions.
The coating is produced by immersing the metal in a solution of hydrofluoric acid. This is preferably done by making the metal to be coated the anode in an electrolytic cell, in which [the electrolyte is a hydrofluoric acid solution. Although various strengths of the acid may be used, an approximately 4.8% acid solution has been found to be the most suitable. The metal to be coated is first cleaned by some suitable means such as by scratch brushing or by dipping in acids, preferably in dilute nitric acid. The nitric acid has the special advantage of giving the metal a very bright luster. If acid is used in cleaning, the metal must subsequently be washed well with running water. It is then ready for the coating operation. The article is then made the positive pole and serves as the anode of the electrolytic cell. The cathode of this cell may be constructed of any material which is an electrical conductor. I have found magnesium metal or carbon'to be best adapted for this purpose.
At the beginning of the coating operation, the'resistance of the cell is comparatively low. As the coating operation proceeds, the resistance increases rapidly and for this reason it has been found advisable to choose a potential .of 110 volts or higher. A.,variable resistance must be placed in series with the cell in order to control the anode current density. Although I do not limit myself to any definite anode current density, a density of one ampere per 100 square inches of anode surface has been found to be very satisfactory. Due to change in volt- IPROTECTIVE COATING FOR M'AGNESIUM.
Application filed January 22, 1923. Serial No. 614,804.
age across the cell, as explained above, it will be evident that the current will change. correspondingly unless the variable resistance is adjusted. For instance, it has been found that if the resistance is not adjusted, the current will rapidly drop from one ampere per 100 square inches of anode surface to practically zero in a period of two to five minutes after starting the current.
The coating as formed on the metal from present information is believed to be either magnesium fluoride or oXy-fluoride or possibly a mixture of the two. The coating may also be obtained by simply allowing the metal to remain in a solution of hydrofluoric acid. The action is very slow, taking several weeks to obtaina fairly good protective coating, but the characteristics of the coating seem to be the same as those obtained in the electrolytic bath. Water soluble fluoride salts, such as potassium fluoride, may also be used as an electrolyte in place of hydrofluoric acid. In fact, any composition may be used which under suitable conditions will liberate nascent fluorine in contact with the metal to be coated. Although I prefer to use direct current in the electrolytic cell, alternating current can also be used.
Havin described the various phenomena which ta e place in my process, I will now outline the details of procedure in coating a rod of magnesium or magnesium alloy. The rod is first cleaned by dipping in dilute nitric acid for approximately one half minute. The nitric acid solution remaining on the rod is then quickly washed off in running water and the rod at once supmerged in the hydrofluoric acid electrolyte of the cell. Thepositive terminal of a 110 volt direct current circuit is attached to the its alloys comprising bringing the metal in contact with nascent fluorine.
2. The process of coating magnesium and its alloys comprising bringing the metal in contact with an aqueous: solution containing hydrofluoric acid.
3. The process of forming a coating on an article of magnesium or its alloys, comprising employing the article as anode in the electrolysis of an aqueoussolution containing a compound of fluorine.
4. The process of formin a coating on 10 an article of magnesium or 1ts alloys, comthe article as anode in the electro] sis an ac ucous solution containing hy rofluoric aci 5. A magnesium or magnesium alloy article having on its surface an adherent coating comprising magnesium fluoride, which is resistant to atmospheric corrosion.
In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.
LEWIS J. KEELER.
prising employin
US614304A 1923-01-22 1923-01-22 Protective coating for magnesium Expired - Lifetime US1574289A (en)

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2766199A (en) * 1951-07-04 1956-10-09 Magnesium Elektron Ltd Cleaning of magnesium base alloy castings
US3119745A (en) * 1958-04-25 1964-01-28 Commissariat Energie Atomique Process for preventing oxidation of nuclear reactor coolant channel magnesium sheaths
US3345276A (en) * 1963-12-23 1967-10-03 Ibm Surface treatment for magnesiumlithium alloys
US3417004A (en) * 1966-03-24 1968-12-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Production of aluminum, magnesium, and nickel fluoride films by anodization
US4184926A (en) * 1979-01-17 1980-01-22 Otto Kozak Anti-corrosive coating on magnesium and its alloys
US5240589A (en) * 1991-02-26 1993-08-31 Technology Applications Group, Inc. Two-step chemical/electrochemical process for coating magnesium alloys
US5264113A (en) * 1991-07-15 1993-11-23 Technology Applications Group, Inc. Two-step electrochemical process for coating magnesium alloys
US5266412A (en) * 1991-07-15 1993-11-30 Technology Applications Group, Inc. Coated magnesium alloys
US5470664A (en) * 1991-02-26 1995-11-28 Technology Applications Group Hard anodic coating for magnesium alloys
US20060102484A1 (en) * 2004-11-12 2006-05-18 Woolsey Earl R Anodization process for coating of magnesium surfaces

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2766199A (en) * 1951-07-04 1956-10-09 Magnesium Elektron Ltd Cleaning of magnesium base alloy castings
US3119745A (en) * 1958-04-25 1964-01-28 Commissariat Energie Atomique Process for preventing oxidation of nuclear reactor coolant channel magnesium sheaths
US3345276A (en) * 1963-12-23 1967-10-03 Ibm Surface treatment for magnesiumlithium alloys
US3417004A (en) * 1966-03-24 1968-12-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Production of aluminum, magnesium, and nickel fluoride films by anodization
US4184926A (en) * 1979-01-17 1980-01-22 Otto Kozak Anti-corrosive coating on magnesium and its alloys
US5240589A (en) * 1991-02-26 1993-08-31 Technology Applications Group, Inc. Two-step chemical/electrochemical process for coating magnesium alloys
US5470664A (en) * 1991-02-26 1995-11-28 Technology Applications Group Hard anodic coating for magnesium alloys
US5264113A (en) * 1991-07-15 1993-11-23 Technology Applications Group, Inc. Two-step electrochemical process for coating magnesium alloys
US5266412A (en) * 1991-07-15 1993-11-30 Technology Applications Group, Inc. Coated magnesium alloys
US20060102484A1 (en) * 2004-11-12 2006-05-18 Woolsey Earl R Anodization process for coating of magnesium surfaces

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