GB1302793A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1302793 Electrolytic treatment of wire FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO Ltd 24 April 1970 19764/70 Heading C7B Metal wire is treated electrolytically, e.g. electro-plated or electro-polished, using apparatus comprising at least two electrolytic treatment tanks for containing electrolyte and at least one pair of guide rolls positioned outside of said tanks such that the wire to be treated may be guided through the first tank, about the first guide roller, through the second tank, about the second guide roller and back into the second tank; the guide rolls serving to connect the wire to one pole of an electrical source. The form shown comprises two tanks 1 containing counterelectrodes 6, and vertically positioned guide rolls 2 having a plurality of circumferential grooves about which the wire passes, entering and leaving the tanks 1 via vertical slits in the end walls of the tanks. Electrolyte which flows out through these slits is returned to the tanks. The wire 5 passes from supply spool 10 through pro-treatment equipment 11 and 12 to the electrolytic tanks, and thereafter through post-treatment equipment 13 and 14 to the,take-up spool 15. Using the present method for electro-plating, the wire may be maintained in a wetted condition whilst passing between the electro-plating tanks by a liquid shower or spray. Examples are given of cleaning brass wire with sodium hydroxide followed by nickel plating from a Watts' bath, or followed by electro-plating with copper from a copper cyanide bath and thereafter with cadmium from a bath containing cadmium oxide and sodium cyanide; of cleaning steel wire with sodium silicate followed by electro-plating with tin using a potassium stannate bath; and of cleaning copper wire with trichloroettylene followed by electro-polishing using phosporic acid.