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US5584983A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for the production of a metal foam

Assignee: SPGPrints BV
•
Filing: 1995-03-03
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Granted: 1996-12-17
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Expires: 2015-03-03
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Abstract

Abstract A method for the production of metal foam with high specific surface area is disclosed. A foam material which may be either conductive or nonconductive is provided. If the material is nonconductive, an electrically conductive covering layer is formed. The electrically conductive foam material is then electrolytically coated with nickel from a nickel plating bath. The bath includes at least one unsaturated organic second class brightener in an amount effective to promote preferential growth of nickel onto the foam material such that the value of the growth ratio R, defined by the total of the growth of metal onto the foam material in the direction of the preferential growth divided by the total of the growth of metal in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the preferential growth, is greater than one. The nickel plating may be carried out using pulse current. The bath liquid may be flowed through the openings of the foam substrate in one or more directions during the deposition.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wilhelmus A. Pruyn

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 06:39
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25D; C25D1/00; C25D1/08; C25D3/00; C25D3/02; C25D3/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9335; Y10S428/934; Y10S428/935; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12479; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12556; Y10T428/12569

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for the production of metal foam with high specific surface area comprising the steps of: providing an electrically conductive foam material and subjecting the foam material to a treatment of metal deposition in an electrolytic nickel bath, wherein for the treatment of metal deposition an electrolytic nickel bath is used which comprises an effective amount of at least one unsaturated organic second class brightener which is effective to promote preferential growth of nickel onto the foam material, such that the value of the growth ratio R, defined by the total of the growth of metal onto the foam material in the direction of the preferential growth divided by the total of the growth of metal in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the preferential growth, is greater than 1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for the production of metal foam with high specific surface area comprising the steps of: providing an electrically conductive foam material and subjecting the foam material to a treatment of metal deposition in an electrolytic nickel bath, wherein for the treatment of metal deposition an electrolytic nickel bath is used which comprises an effective amount of at least one unsaturated organic second class brightener which is effective to promote preferential growth of nickel onto the foam material, such that the value of the growth ratio R, defined by the total of the growth of metal onto the foam material in the direction of the preferential growth divided by the total of the growth of metal in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the preferential growth, is greater than 1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the unsaturated organic second class brightener is also a first class brightener.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the second class brightener is selected from the group consisting of: 1,4-butyndiol, ethylene cyanohydrine, 1-(3-sulphopropyl)-pyridine, and 1-(2-hydroxy-3-sulphopropyl-pyridine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 83 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment of metal deposition is carried out using one or more of the following conditions: flow of bath fluid through the openings in the foam material for at least part of the period of metal deposition, and the use of a pulsating current during metal deposition, which comprises pulsating current periods (T) and currentless or reverse pulsating current periods (T'), T and T' being adjusted independently of one another to between 0 and 9,900 msec.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 59 words
Method according to claim 1, the metal deposition treatment being carried out using a condition of flow of bath fluid through the openings in the foam material for at least part of the metal deposition period, wherein the direction of flow of the bath fluid with respect to the foam material is varied during the treatment of metal deposition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
Method according to claim 1, further including the step of applying a top layer after subjecting the foam material to said treatment of metal deposition, the top layer comprising chromium, phosphorous-nickel, nickeldisperse, gold or silver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method for the production of a metal foam as defined in claim 1, wherein the foam material initially is a non-conductive foam material which is made electrically conductive prior to subjecting the foam material to the treatment of metal deposition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method for the production of a metal foam as defined in claim 7, wherein the foam material is selected from the group consisting of organic foam material and fiber assemblies.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3694325A Cited
US4436591A Cited
EP0151064A2 Cited
US4882232A Cited
EP0341167A1 Cited
US4957543A Cited
EP0402738A2 Cited
US5282951A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-12-17 2000-06-17 2000-12-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-12-17 2004-06-17 2004-12-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-12-17 2008-06-17 2008-12-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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