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US4017368A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for electroplating zirconium alloys

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1974-11-11
•
Granted: 1977-04-12
•
Expires: 1994-11-11
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Abstract

Abstract A novel aqueous electrolytic activating solution and a method for electroplating zirconium and zirconium alloys are disclosed. The novel aqueous electrolytic activating solution is comprised of from about 10 to about 20 grams per liter of ammonium bifluoride (NH 4 FHF) and from about 0.75 to 2 grams per liter of sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ).

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel E. Wax
  • 👤 II Robert L. Cowan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 05:43
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D5/00; C25D5/34; C25D5/38

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 44 words
An aqueous electrolytic activating solution comprised of a. from about 10 to about 20 grams per liter of ammonium bifluoride, and b. from about 0.75 to about 2 grams per liter of sulfuric acid, said solution having been aged by immersion of zirconium therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 44 words
An aqueous electrolytic activating solution comprised of a. from about 10 to about 20 grams per liter of ammonium bifluoride, and b. from about 0.75 to about 2 grams per liter of sulfuric acid, said solution having been aged by immersion of zirconium therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
An aqueous electrolytic activating solution according to claim 1 and having about 15 grams per liter of ammonium bi-fluoride and about 0.95 grams per liter sulfuric acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An aqueous electrolytic activating solution according to claim 1 which has been aged by immersion of pickled zirconium for about 10 minutes at ambient temperature.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 93 words
A method for protecting zirconium and zirconium base alloys by electrolytic deposition of a metal film thereon, comprising a. activating the zirconium and zirconium alloys in an aqueous electrolytic activating solution of from about 10 to about 20 grams per liter of ammonium bi-fluoride and from about 0.75 to about 2 grams per liter of sulfuric acid, said solution being aged by immersion of pickled zirconium in said solution for about 10 minutes, and b. electroplating the zirconium material in a plating bath of the metal to be plated on the zirconium material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 93 words
A method for protecting zirconium and zirconium base alloys by electrolytic deposition of a metal film thereon, comprising a. activating the zirconium and zirconium alloys in an aqueous electrolytic activating solution of from about 10 to about 20 grams per liter of ammonium bi-fluoride and from about 0.75 to about 2 grams per liter of sulfuric acid, said solution being aged by immersion of pickled zirconium in said solution for about 10 minutes, and b. electroplating the zirconium material in a plating bath of the metal to be plated on the zirconium material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the aqueous electrolytic activating solution is comprised of about 15 grams per liter ammonium bi-fluoride and about 0.95 grams per liter sulfuric acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 4 in which the salt bath is copper sulfate and the metal to be plated on the zirconium material is copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 4 in which the salt bath is nickel sulfate and the metal to be plated on the zirconium material is nickel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 4 in which the salt bath is chromium oxide and the metal to be plated on the zirconium material is chromium.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3125474A Cited
US2646396A Cited
US2711364A Cited
US3264219A Cited
US3817844A Cited
US3725217A Cited
US3761313A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-04-11 1980-10-11 1981-04-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-04-11 1984-10-11 1985-04-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-04-11 1988-10-11 1989-04-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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