Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Processes and products
Patent
1979-11-14
1981-07-28
Tufariello, T. M.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Processes and products
204DIG7, C25D 502
Patent
active
042808820
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for electroplating a selected portion of an article by carefully confining electrolyte contact to the selected portion of the article and establishing a generally uniform electrical field adjacent that selected portion. Electrolyte wetting of the article, which is partially immersed in an electrolytic plating bath maintained under agitation, is minimized by surrounding the article with a dielectric baffle to establish a quiescent zone on the bath surface adjacent the article. Thus, the selected portion of the article is fully exposed to the bath while electrolyte wetting of portions of the article outside of the selected portion is minimized by the baffle. A generally uniform plating of the selected portion is obtained by positioning an electrode in close proximity to the selected portion and maintaining a generally uniform separation between the selected portion and the electrode while an electrical potential is applied between the electrode and the article. In addition, the baffle contributes to the uniformity of plating by lengthening or screening current lines of force between the electrode and projecting areas of the selected portion. Undesirable plating of areas of the article outside of the selected portion may be further limited by establishing negative capillarity between the electrolyte and the baffle. Negative capillarity inhibits electrolyte wetting of these outside areas due to surface tension effects. The preferred plating metals are precious metals chosen from the group consisting of gold, rhodium, palladium, irridium, platinum and silver, and alloys thereof. The electroplating method and apparatus are particularly useful for selectively plating an elongated bore in a conductive article such as an electrical contact.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3862891 (1975-01-01), Smith
patent: 3878062 (1975-04-01), Grimaldi
patent: 4032414 (1977-06-01), Helder
patent: 4035245 (1977-07-01), Danneels
Arbuckle F. M.
Bunker Ramo Corporation
Sufrin B. W.
Tufariello T. M.
LandOfFree
Method for electroplating selected areas of article and articles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for electroplating selected areas of article and articles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for electroplating selected areas of article and articles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-548150