Processes and baths for electro-stripping plated metal deposits from articles

Claim 2

The process of electro-stripping singularly and in selective combinations deposited metals, selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, chromium, brass, tin, lead, zinc, gold and silver, from the surface of articles having base metals selected from the group consisting of titanium and tantalum, which comprises the steps of: immersing the plated article in an electrolytic bath consisting essentially, by weight, of an aqueous solution of 25 to 35 percent fluoboric acid, 10 to 20 percent phosphoric acid, and the remainder of 45 to 65 percent being mainly of water, and applying an electric current from the article, as anode, through the bath to a cathode until the plated metal has been electro-stripped from the article.

Claim 3

The process of electro-stripping in accordance with claim 3 wherein the concentration of said fluoboric acid in said electrolytic bath is approximately 29 percent, by weight, and wherein said phosphoric acid in said bath is approximately 13 percent, by weight, with the remainder water.

Claim 4

The process of electro-stripping singularly and in selective combinations electro-deposited metals, selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, chromium, brass, tin, lead, zinc, gold and silver, from such plated articles having base metals selected from the group consisting of titanium and tantalum, which comprises the steps of: immersing the plated article in an electrolytic bath consisting essentially, by volume, of an aqueous solution the equivalent of 50 to 60 percent of a 39.9* BAUME'' fluoboric acid, the equivalent of 12 to 17 percent of a 53.2* BAUME'' phosphoric acid, and from 23 to 33 percent water, and applying an electric current from the article, as anode, through the bath to a cathode until the plated metal has been electro-stripped from the article and disintegrates into the solution.

Claim 5

An electrolytic bath for stripping plated metals from a different base metal, consisting essentially of fluoboric acid, phosphoric acid and water, wherein the concentration of said fluoboric acid in said bath is between 20 and 40 percent, by weight, and wherein said phospHoric acid in said bath is between 5 and 25 percent, by weight, with the remainder of between 35 and 75 percent, by weight, being mainly of water.

Claim 6

An electrolytic bath in accordance with claim 6 wherein the concentration of said fluoboric acid in said bath is between 28 and 30 percent, by weight, and wherein said phosphoric acid in said bath is between 12 and 14 percent, by weight, with the remainder of between 56 and 60 percent, by weight, being mainly of water.

Claim 7

An electrolytic solution for stripping metals from a different base metal consisting essentially, by volume, of an aqueous mixture the equivalent of 50 to 60 percent of a 39.9* BAUME'' fluoboric acid, the equivalent of 12 to 17 percent of a 53.2* BAUME'' phosphoric acid, and from 23 to 33 percent water.