Process for electrolytic deposition of iron in the form of powder

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS FOR PRODUCING POWDERED IRON IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL HAVING AN ANODE COMPOSED OF IRON AND A CATHODE, THE PROCESS COMPRISING PASSING AN ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH AN ELECTROLYTE BETWEEN SAID ANODE AND CATHODE, SAID ALECTROLYTE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF ALKALI METAL HALIDE AND FERROUS CHLORIDE IN THE MOLTEN STATE, SAID CURRENT BEING OF A DENSITY SUITABLE FOR DEPOSITING IRON ON THE CATHODE IN THE POWDERED FORM, MAINTAINING THE ELECTROLYTE AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF SAID IRON TO BE DEPOSITED, INTRODUCING HALOGEN INTO THE ELECTROLYTE IN GASEOUS FORM, AND REGULATING THE FLOW OF HALOGEN GAS INTO SAID ELECTROLYTE AT A LEVEL WHICH MAINTAINES THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID IRON IN THE ELECTROLYTE SO THAT THE POTENTIAL BETWEEN THE ANODE AND CATHODE IS BELOW THAT AT WHICH METALS WHICH REQUIRE A HIGHER DISCHARGE VOLTAGE THAN IRON ARE DEPOSITED, AND LIMITS THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID IRON IN SAID ELECTROLYTE BELOW THAT AT WHICH THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF HALIDES OF IRON TAKES PLACE WHEREBY METAL OF THE DESIRED GRAIN SIZE IS PRODUCED.