US3474011A - Electroplating method and apparatus - Google Patents

Electroplating method and apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3474011A
US3474011A US658075A US3474011DA US3474011A US 3474011 A US3474011 A US 3474011A US 658075 A US658075 A US 658075A US 3474011D A US3474011D A US 3474011DA US 3474011 A US3474011 A US 3474011A
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Prior art keywords
electrodes
current
plates
nickel
maximum
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US658075A
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English (en)
Inventor
Clifford D Guertin
Salvatore F D Amato
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BNY Mellon NA
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American Bank Note Co
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Assigned to MELLON BANK, N.A. A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION reassignment MELLON BANK, N.A. A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ABN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ABN SECURITIES SYSTEMS, INC., AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, EIDETIC IMAGES, INC., HORSHAM HOLDING COMPANY, INC., INTERNATIONAL BANKNOTE COMPANY, INC., OLD DOMINION FOILS COMPANY, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Assigned to AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, ABN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ABN SECURITIES SYSTEMS, INC., HORSHAM HOLDING COMPANY, INC., INTERNATIONAL BANKNOTE COMPANY, INC., OLD DOMINION FOILS COMPANY, INC., EIDETIC IMAGES, INC. reassignment AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE DATE: MAY 1, 1986 Assignors: MELLON BANK, N.A.
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D21/00—Processes for servicing or operating cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D21/16—Regeneration of process solutions
    • C25D21/18—Regeneration of process solutions of electrolytes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electroplating system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for electrodeposition of metals which enable the deposition of extremely large amounts of metal.
  • the system provides for regenerating metal ions by a most eflicient arrangement for introducing metals into solution.
  • the present invention is especially adapted to high quantity production of nickel plating and provides for the introduction of a continuous supply of nickel into an electrolytic solution.
  • the anode which is to be utilized in the process be insoluble or substantially insoluble in the electrolyte.
  • the anode be a passive element in the process and be substantially inert to the electrolytic action.
  • Such an arrangement is particularly important in the case of electroforming articles such as intaglio printing plates, where it is necessary to keep the distance between anode and cathode substantially constant.
  • the plates be formed as continuous cylindrical shells of quite large dimensions. For example, it might be required to produce a cylindrical shell having an inside surface area of 12 square feet.
  • a non-consumable or inert electrode serving as anode is concentrically placed with respect to the inside surfrace of the shell which is to be electroformed.
  • a master plate which has been suitably treated acts as the cathode in the electroplating operation and the transported nickel ions build up on this suitably treated surface to form the cylindrical shell.
  • Another object is to eliminate the requirement for reversing a direct current supply to a nickel plating regenerating apparatus.
  • the present invention provides regenerating apparatus for the electrodeposition of metals having as one of its important features the cyclical exposure of the electrodes of the regenerating apparatus and the synchronization therewith of the current supply to these electrodes.
  • the synchronization is such that the maximum area of one electrode is exposed in a direct or straight line current path to an opposite electrode while the area of that other electrode is a minimum; and at this very time, maximum current is being supplied to the electrodes. It is by virtue of this arrangement, therefore, that metal ions are most efficiently placed in solution without being plated on to the cathode. Maximum dissolution of the metal occurs because at the time of maximum current flow there is maximum unbalance between the exposed electrode areas, that is, the anode area greatly exceeds the cathode area. Also, by this arrangement, there is enabled the use of alternating currents for the dissolution of the metal, and thereby the need for special power supplies as would be required for direct current is obviated.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of an electroplating system particularly illustrating the novel regenerating apparatus of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing parts of the drive means.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between the exposure of the surface area of the electrodes of the regenerating apparatus and the current supplied to those electrodes as a function of time.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown the environment in which the regenerating apparatus of the present invention is operative.
  • the system or environment comprises a conventional plating tank 1 in which a plurality of typical electrodes such as an anode 2 and cathode 3 are utilized. These electrodes are shown immersed in an electrolytic solution within the tank 1, and a direct current power supply 4 is shown connected to these electrodes.
  • a direct current power supply 4 is shown connected to these electrodes.
  • the regenerating apparatus of the present invention is generally designated by the number 8 and, as aforenoted, is shown connected to the plating tank 1 for circulation of the electrolyte.
  • the regenerating apparatus 8 comprises a tank 9 and a plurality of electrodes 10 and 11 which are shown immersed in the electrolytic solution in the regenerating tank 9.
  • the electrodes 10 and 11 are constituted by a plurality of nickel balls which are shown disposed in their respective guides 12 and 13 and in their respective cages 14 and 15, the latter being situated within the tank 9 for purposes to be explained.
  • the nickel balls which form the electrodes 10 and 11 are consumable, that is, they are dissolved in the solution present in the tank 9. By force of gravity the balls move down the guides 12 and 13 as the balls present in the cages 14 and 15 are constantly being eroded. The supply of electrolytic nickel in the form of these balls can thus be easily replenished.
  • the balls in the cages 14 and 15 are, of course, suitably restrained by a mesh screen or the like provided as part of the cages.
  • the cases 14 and 15 are constituted of a non-reactive material such as titanium or the like.
  • the current flow between electrodes 10 and 11 is in a direct path between the juxtaposed surfaces of the nickel balls, that is, the surfaces of these balls which are disposed in the cases 14 and 15, so as to face each other in the solution.
  • these nickel balls form consumable electrodes and the action of the current flow is to cause nickel continuously to go into solution. The dissolution of the nickel is maximized by the means which will now be described.
  • a synchronized drive means is provided.
  • This drive means assures that the proper exposure of the surface areas will occur when the desired amount of current is flowing.
  • the drive means generally designated by the numeral 16 is connected to the rotor of the synchronous motor 17.
  • Afiixed to one set of gears 1641 are pairs of shafts 16b and 160.
  • the shaft 16b fits within the shaft 16c and is used to drive the plate a, whereas the shaft 16c drives the plate 20b.
  • a gear box 16 is disposed between the rotor shaft of the motor 17 and the drive shaft 16c. This gear box is simply used to change speeds, for a purpose to be noted hereinafter.
  • a chain drive 16g extends from shaft 162 to shaft 16h, for this purpose.
  • Gear set 16k, shaft 161 and 16m correspond to previously noted parts 16a, 16b and 160 respectively.
  • the plates 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b have been illustrated in the form of disc segments, other shapes are, of course, possible.
  • the plates could be rectangular in shape.
  • Their shape in the illustrative embodiment has been chosen to correspond best to the shape of the exposed area of the nickel balls in the cages 14 and 15.
  • the various parts that make up the drive means 16 for properly rotating the plates in the solution can be made of conventional materials. However, it is preferable that the plates themselves as well as their driving shafts be constituted of non-reactive material such as reinforced plastic or hard rubber.
  • the bearings and/or shaft seals are made of graphite and/ or ceramics.
  • the pair of plates 20a, 20b have a physical displacement of from the position at any given instant of time of the corresponding pair of plates 21a and 21b respectively. This is for the aforenoted purpose of exposing a maximum surface area of one electrode while exposing a minimum area of the other electrode.
  • plates 20a and 2% are in such position as to shade the surface area of the nickel balls of their adjacent electrode 10. Effectively, then, although a direct path for current is provided, there is minimization of any plating on the electrode 10 (considered now to be acting as the cathode).
  • the rotation of the plates is precisely synchronized with the flow of current between electrodes 10 and 11 in the following manner.
  • a 60 cycle alternating current wave is supplied to the electrodes 10 and 11 by way of branch circuit 22 from one of the secondaries of transformer 30.
  • the primary of transformer 30 is shown connected to an AC. power supply 32.
  • the other secondary is connected to form branch circuit 24 in which is disposed synchronous motor 17.
  • the rotor shaft of motor 17 is synchronously related to the current flow and flux of its stator.
  • Synchronization of the aforesaid two current waves is achieved by any suitable means, such as by connecting test lines, as illustrated, to the respective branch circuits 22 and 24 for the motor and the electrodes.
  • the current waves may initially be out of phase because of the diflering power factors of the respective branch circuits, adjustment is made, such as by means of capacitor 40, while observing the current wave forms on a double beam oscilloscope 42 which is connected by the test lines to the branch circuits.
  • a given point on the rotor shaft now has a fixed relationship to a point on the illustrated current wave of FIG. 2, i.e. the current flowing between electrodes 10 and 11.
  • the positioning of the plates 20a and 20b on their shafts 16b and 160 would be adjusted so that the plate 20a would overlap plate 20!), thereby exposing a maximum surface area of electrode 10 at the point of mwimum positive current.
  • the rotational speed of the plates would be reduced, at this time, from their normal rate of 30 revolutions per second to approximately 1 revolution per second.
  • the gear box 16 would be used for this purpose of effecting speed reduction, in a well-known manner.
  • the other pair of plates that is, plates 21a and 2112 are then adjusted for their 90 displacement from plates 20a and 2011 respectively.
  • the rotational speed of the plates 20a, 20b and 21a, 21b is, of course, related to the rotational speed of the rotor shaft of motor 18 by the gear ratio between them.
  • the overall gear ratio would be 1:1 so that the speeds would be the same.
  • the current wave will traverse two complete cycles in the time it takes for a pair of discs to go from their initial positions, as for example, from their positions at point 1 through a complete cycle to arrive again at the same position, as shown at point 9. It will be appreciated that with the timing being such that a pair of discs, such as plates 20a and 2%, go through a complete revolution of 360 in the time that the current wave goes through two cycles, that the electrodes 10 and 11 interchange roles as cathode and anode during this period.
  • the two plates for example 20a and 20!
  • the two plates 21a and 21b are providing a maximum area of exposure of their electrode 11; and this is happening at a time (point 1 in FIG. 3) when the current Wave has attained its maximum amplitude in the negative half of the cycle.
  • the plating solutions and conditions to be employed in the process in accordance with the present invention are as follows:
  • a metal plating process for the electrodeposition of a metal using an insoluble anode spaced at a fixed distance from a cathode and wherein the plating current flows through the electrolyte between the insoluble anode and the cathode
  • the improvement in said process of circulating the electrolyte to a regenerating apparatus comprising an alternating current power supply electrically connected to at least one pair of consumable metal electrodes having opposed surface areas, regenerating the metal ion content of said electrolyte by cyclically exposing the opposed surface areas of the consumable metal electrodes so as to form effectively a variable area current path while synchronously applying current to said electrodes to provide maximum exposed surface area for one of said consumable electrodes and minimum exposed area for the other of said consumable electrodes at a time when the current flow between said electrodes is at a maximum.
  • the improvement in said process of circulating the electrolyte to a regenerating apparatus comprising an alternating current power supply electrically connected to at least one pair of consumable nickel electrodes having opposed surface areas, regenerating the nickel ion content of said electrolyte by cyclically exposing the opposed surface areas of the consumable nickel electrodes so as to form eifectively a variable area current path while synchronously applying current to said electrodes to provide maximum exposed surface area for one of said consumable electrodes and minimum exposed area for the other of said consumable electrodes at a time when the current flow between said electrodes is at a maximum.
  • nickel electrodes are in the form of consumable nickel balls contained within a guide and each presenting a surface area for exposure in a direct path to its opposed electrode.
  • a nickel plating process for the electrodeposition of nickel using an insoluble anode spaced at a fixed distance from a cathode and wherein the plating current flows through the electrolyte between the insoluble anode and the cathode
  • the improvement in said process of circulating the electrolyte to a regenerating apparatus comprising an alternating current power supply electrically connected to at least one pair of consumable nickel electrodes having opposed surface areas, regenerating the nickel ion content of said electrolyte by cyclically exposing the surface areas of the consumable nickel electrodes so as to form a variable area, current path, while synchronously applying current to said electrodes to provide maximum exposed surface area for one of said consumable electrodes and minimum exposed surface area for the other of said consumable electrodes at a time when the current fiow between said electrodes is at a maximum, and to provide equally exposed surface areas for both of said electrodes when said current flow is zero.
  • An electroplating apparatus comprising a plating tank for containing a plating electrolyte; an insoluble anode and a cathode in said tank; electrical means for passing a direct current between said anode and cathode; a regenerating auxiliary tank adapted to receive plating electrolyte from said plating tank, regenerate said electrolyte and return said electrolyte to the plating tank; at least one pair of consumable metal electrodes having opposed surface areas within said auxiliary tank; alternating current means connected to said pair of metal electrodes for passing an alternating current therebetween; and means operative to provide maximum exposed surface area for one of said electrodes and minimum exposed surface area for the other of said electrodes when the current flow between said electrodes is at a maximum.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
US658075A 1967-08-03 1967-08-03 Electroplating method and apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3474011A (en)

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US65807567A 1967-08-03 1967-08-03

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4045304A (en) * 1976-05-05 1977-08-30 Electroplating Engineers Of Japan, Ltd. High speed nickel plating method using insoluble anode
US4208255A (en) * 1977-03-23 1980-06-17 Kollmorgen Technologies Corporation Process and device for the production of metal-complex compounds suitable for electroless metal deposition
FR2649996A1 (fr) * 1989-07-24 1991-01-25 Omi Int Corp Procede de cuivrage sans cyanure
US6056862A (en) * 1997-10-30 2000-05-02 Daiki Engineering Co., Ltd. Process and apparatus for supplying metal ions to alloy electroplating bath

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2053342A1 (en) * 1990-10-22 1992-04-23 Robert A. Tremmel Nickel electroplating process with reduced nickel ion build up
FR2801062B1 (fr) 1999-11-12 2001-12-28 Lorraine Laminage Installation et procede de dissolution electrolytique par oxydation d'un metal
GB2528873A (en) * 2014-07-31 2016-02-10 Mohammad Sakhawat Hussain Direct high speed nickel plating on difficult to plate metals

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2541721A (en) * 1948-04-22 1951-02-13 Int Nickel Co Process for replenishing nickel plating electrolyte
GB819548A (en) * 1957-02-05 1959-09-02 English Electric Co Ltd Improvements in and relating to liquid resistance controllers

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2541721A (en) * 1948-04-22 1951-02-13 Int Nickel Co Process for replenishing nickel plating electrolyte
GB819548A (en) * 1957-02-05 1959-09-02 English Electric Co Ltd Improvements in and relating to liquid resistance controllers

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4045304A (en) * 1976-05-05 1977-08-30 Electroplating Engineers Of Japan, Ltd. High speed nickel plating method using insoluble anode
US4208255A (en) * 1977-03-23 1980-06-17 Kollmorgen Technologies Corporation Process and device for the production of metal-complex compounds suitable for electroless metal deposition
FR2649996A1 (fr) * 1989-07-24 1991-01-25 Omi Int Corp Procede de cuivrage sans cyanure
US6056862A (en) * 1997-10-30 2000-05-02 Daiki Engineering Co., Ltd. Process and apparatus for supplying metal ions to alloy electroplating bath

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Publication number Publication date
DE1771914A1 (de) 1972-02-03
GB1226658A (de) 1971-03-31

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