Electrolysis cathodes with Ag-Ti intermetallic coating

Claim 2

A cathode for use in an electrolytic cell comprising a metal substrate selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys with a surface coating consisting essentially of at least one silver-titanium intermetallic compound.

Claim 3

The cathode defined in claim 1 in which the metal substrate is titanium.

Claim 4

The cathode defined in claim 1 in which the surface coating is 2 to 4 microinches in thickness.

Claim 5

The cathode defined in claim 1 wherein said intermetallic compound is formed in situ on the substrate by reaction of silver with titanium.

Claim 6

In an electrolysis cell for the production of chlorine or sodium chlorate by electrolysis using a titanium cathode, the improvement wherein said cathode is constituted as defined in claim 1.

Claim 7

A process for producing a cathode for use in an electrolytic cell comprising a metal substrate selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys with a surface coating consisting essentially of a silver-titanium intermetallic which comprises the steps of: (a) applying a thin film consisting essentially of metallic silver to the metal substrate; and (b) heating the metal substrate at a temperture and under an atmosphere to provide formation of at least one silver-titanium intermetallic compound.

Claim 8

A process for producing a cathode for use in an electrolytic cell comprising a metal substrate selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys with a surface coating consisting essentially of a silver-titanium intermetallic which comprises the steps of: (a) applying a thin film consisting essentially of metallic silver to the metal substrate; and (b) heating the metal substrate at a temperture and under an atmosphere to provide formation of at least one silver-titanium intermetallic compound.

Claim 9

The process in claim 6 wherein the thin film of metallic silver is 2 to 4 microinches as applied during step (a).

Claim 10

The process defined in claim 6 wherein heating step (b) is carried out at a temperature of about 300° C. to 650° C.

Claim 11

The process defined in claim 6 wherein heating step (b) is carried out at a temperature of about 550° C.

Claim 12

The process defined in claim 6 wherein heating step (b) is carried out in the air.

Claim 13

The process defined in claim 6 wherein heating step (b) is carried out for a period of about 15 minutes.

Claim 14

In the production of chlorine or sodium chlorate by electrolysis with a cathode, the improvement which comprises the step of using as the cathode a structure with an intermetallic coating surface produced by the method defined in claim 6.