US3867264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroforming process
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
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Filing: 1973-03-30
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-03-30
Abstract
Abstract An electroforming process for duplicating the surface contour of a master form. A pre-plate solution is coated on the form and comprises a combination of a metal compound capable of being reduced to its active metal constituent so as to form catalytic bonding sites for a further metal plating process, binder material comprising one or more polymer and/or polymer formers, and at least one solvent for the binder material and the metal compound. The binder material is chosen to provide a polymeric substance having poor adhesion for the form surface. The binder is dried to a polymer layer on the form and thereafter a conductive metal layer is electrolessly plated on the polymer layer. A desired thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the electrolessly plated layer is obtained by electroplating the electrolessly plated layer. The electroplated metal can then be removed from the form.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley A Carson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:41
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D1/00; C25D1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
AN ELECTROFORMING PROCESS FOR DUPLICATING THE SURFACE CONTOUR OF FROM COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: COATING THE SURFACE OF A PLASTIC FORM HAVING A SURFACE CONTOUR TO BE DUPLICATED WITH A MIXTURE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A METAL COMPOUND CAPABLE OF BEING REDUCED TO ITS ACTIVE METAL CONSTITUENT SO AS TO FORM CATALYTIC BONDING SITES FROM A FURTHER METAL PLATING PROCESS, BINDER MATERIAL COMPRISING ONE OR MORE POLYMERS AND/OR POLYMER FORMERS, AND AT LEAST ONE SOLVENT FOR SAID BINDER MATERIAL AND METAL COMPOUND, SAID BINDER MATERIAL FORMING A POLYMERIC SUBSTANCE HAVING POOR ADHESION FOR SAID FORM SURFACE;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
AN ELECTROFORMING PROCESS FOR DUPLICATING THE SURFACE CONTOUR OF FROM COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: COATING THE SURFACE OF A PLASTIC FORM HAVING A SURFACE CONTOUR TO BE DUPLICATED WITH A MIXTURE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A METAL COMPOUND CAPABLE OF BEING REDUCED TO ITS ACTIVE METAL CONSTITUENT SO AS TO FORM CATALYTIC BONDING SITES FROM A FURTHER METAL PLATING PROCESS, BINDER MATERIAL COMPRISING ONE OR MORE POLYMERS AND/OR POLYMER FORMERS, AND AT LEAST ONE SOLVENT FOR SAID BINDER MATERIAL AND METAL COMPOUND, SAID BINDER MATERIAL FORMING A POLYMERIC SUBSTANCE HAVING POOR ADHESION FOR SAID FORM SURFACE;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 wherein said binder material forms a polymeric substance which is brittle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 wherein said binder material is glossy, brittle and water resistant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 wherein said form comprises material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylic, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polystyrene, polyester and epoxy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 in which the thickness of said polymer layer is 20-3,000 A.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 in which said combination has a viscosity, under the conditions of its application to said form, equivalent to a Newtonian fluid viscosity of about 0.2 to about 100 centipoise.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electroforming process of claim 6 in which said Newtonian fluid viscosity is about 0.2 to about 10 centipoise.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 in which the metal of said metal compound is selected from the group consisting of tin, copper, silver, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electroforming process of claim 8 in which said metal comprises palladium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 wherein said metal compound comprises palladium chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electroforming process of claim 1 wherein said metal compound comprises palladium acetate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |