Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of treating a member to form a dielectric surface layer, comprising the steps of: hardcoat anodizing the member, which is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, to form an oxide surface layer having a plurality of pores and a barrier layer, heating the aluminum member to an elevated temperature in the range of 120°-180° C., impregnating the pores of the oxide surface layer with a material selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, montan wax, and compounds of said waxes while the member is at a temperature above the melting point of the impregnating wax, to form a dielectric surface layer with a resistivity in excess of 10 12 ohm-centimeters, and removing any of the wax on the exterior of the dielectric surface layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of treating a member to form a dielectric surface layer, comprising the steps of: hardcoat anodizing the member, which is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, to form an oxide surface layer having a plurality of pores and a barrier layer, heating the aluminum member to an elevated temperature in the range of 120°-180° C., impregnating the pores of the oxide surface layer with a material selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, montan wax, and compounds of said waxes while the member is at a temperature above the melting point of the impregnating wax, to form a dielectric surface layer with a resistivity in excess of 10 12 ohm-centimeters, and removing any of the wax on the exterior of the dielectric surface layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of polishing the dielectric surface layer to a finish better than 20 microinch r.m.s.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the impregnating material is selected from the group consisting of carnauba No. 1 yellow wax, carnauba No. 2 refined wax, carnauba No. 3 refined wax, and crude montan wax.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the heating step is effexted in a vacuum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the member to be anodized is comprised of an aluminum alloy selected from the 6000 and 7000 series alloys of the Aluminum Association.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the member to be hardcoat anodized is formed by extrusion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of treating a member to form a dielectric surface layer, comprising the steps of: fabricating a member by extrusion from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, hardcoat anodizing the member to form an oxide surface layer having a plurality of pores and a barrier layer, dehydrating the oxide surface layer to thoroughly remove water form the pores, heating the pores of the oxide surface layer to thoroughly remove water from the pores, impregnating the pores of the oxide surface layer with a material selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, montan wax, and compounds of said waxes, while heating the layer to a temperature above the melting point of said wax, to form a dielectric surface layer with a resistivity in excess of 10 12 ohm-centimeters, and removing any of the wax on the exterior of dielectric surface layer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of treating a member to form a dielectric surface layer, comprising the steps of: fabricating a member by extrusion from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, hardcoat anodizing the member to form an oxide surface layer having a plurality of pores and a barrier layer, dehydrating the oxide surface layer to thoroughly remove water form the pores, heating the pores of the oxide surface layer to thoroughly remove water from the pores, impregnating the pores of the oxide surface layer with a material selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, montan wax, and compounds of said waxes, while heating the layer to a temperature above the melting point of said wax, to form a dielectric surface layer with a resistivity in excess of 10 12 ohm-centimeters, and removing any of the wax on the exterior of dielectric surface layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of polishing the dielectric surface layer to a finish better than 20 microinch r.m.s.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the dehydrating step comprises heating the anodized aluminum member to a temperature in the range from 120°-180° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the impregnating wax is applied to the oxide surface layer as a hot melt, while maintaining the surface at a temperature above the melting point of said wax.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the impregnating material is selected from the group consisting of carnauba No. 1 yellow wax, carnauba No. 2 refined wax, carnauba No. 3 refined wax, and crude montan wax.