U.S. patent number 3,632,486 [Application Number 04/762,806] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-04 for method and arrangement for continuous etching and anodizing of aluminum.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Metalloxyd Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung. Invention is credited to Rolando M. Dizon, Helmut F. Herrmann.
United States Patent |
3,632,486 |
Herrmann , et al. |
January 4, 1972 |
METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTINUOUS ETCHING AND ANODIZING OF
ALUMINUM
Abstract
Elongated aluminum bodies such as aluminum sheets, foils and the
like, the term aluminum denoting not only pure aluminum but also
aluminum alloys which lend themselves to electrolytic etching and
anodizing, are continuously passed through two electrolytic cells
to be etched in the first and anodized in the second cell, at least
one of the two cells comprises two adjacent compartments each
equipped with a stationary electrode and containing electrolyte.
The other cell may be similarly constructed or may be a single
compartment electrolytic cell including electrolyte and a
stationary electrode wherein the elongated aluminum body passing
therethrough forms the electrode of opposite polarity. Alternating
current is applied to the double-compartment cell and, if one of
the electrolytic cells is of the single-compartment type, directed
current is applied thereto. The elongated aluminum body forms
during its passage through the double-compartment cell a bipolar
conductor having portions within the respective compartments of
this cell. It is possible in this manner, i.e. by utilizing two
cells at least one of which being a two-compartment cell, to carry
out etching and anodizing in a single continuous pass of the
elongated aluminum body.
Inventors: |
Herrmann; Helmut F.
(Koln-Braunsfeld, DT), Dizon; Rolando M. (Koln,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Metalloxyd Gesellschaft mit
beschrankter Haftung (Koln-Braunsfeld, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5682504 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/762,806 |
Filed: |
September 26, 1968 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 17, 1967 [DT] |
|
|
P 16 21 115.7 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
205/139; 204/207;
204/211; 204/268; 205/147; 205/203; 205/214; 205/324; 430/302;
430/327; 430/935 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25D
11/08 (20130101); C25D 11/04 (20130101); C25F
3/04 (20130101); Y10S 430/136 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C25F
3/04 (20060101); C25F 3/00 (20060101); C25D
11/04 (20060101); C23b 001/00 (); C23b 003/00 ();
C23b 005/68 (); B01r 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;204/33,38.1,42,268,58,209-211,141,28,206-208 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mack; John H.
Assistant Examiner: Fay; R. J.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is:
1. A continuous method for sequentially etching and anodizing
aluminum sheets, foil and the like comprising the steps of
continuously passing an elongated body, consisting essentially of
aluminum or aluminum base alloy through two sequentially arranged
electrolytic means each connected to a separate source of electric
current so as to subject said elongated body in the first of said
electrolytic means to etching and in the second of said
electrolytic means to anodic oxidation, at least one said
electrolytic means comprising at least two adjacent compartments
each equipped with a stationary electrode and containing
electrolyte; and applying alternating current by one of said
sources of current to the electrodes of said at least one
electrolytic means, said elongated body forming during its passage
through the compartments of said at least one electrolytic means a
bipolar conductor having portions within the respective
compartments of said at least one electrolytic means so that the
current from said one source will flow from one of said electrodes
to the portion of said elongated body in one of said compartments
and to the portion in the other compartment and back to the
electrode in the other compartment without flowing along said
elongated body beyond said one
2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the two
sequentially arranged electrolytic means is connected to a separate
source of alternating current and comprises at least two adjacent
compartments each equipped with a stationary electrode and
containing electrolyte, and wherein the electrolyte of the first of
said two electrolytic means causes etching of aluminum and the
electrolyte of the second of said two
3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the electrolyte said
first electrolytic means is aqueous hydrochloric acid and the
electrolyte of
4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the external ohmic
resistance between said sources of alternating current is such that
no significant amount of current will flow between the two sources
of current within the portion of said elongated body located
between said first and second
5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the other of said
electrolytic means consists essentially of an electrolytic cell
including electrolyte and a stationary electrode contacting said
electrolyte, and wherein the other source of current is a source of
direct current connected with one pole thereof to said stationary
electrode and with the other pole thereof
6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated body is
subjected to etching in said other of said electrolytic means and
the stationary
7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated body is
subjected to anodic oxidation in said other of said electrolytic
means and the
8. A method as defined in claim 1, and including the step of
passing said elongated body leaving said electrolytic etching means
through a cleansing bath prior to introduction of said elongated
body into said electrolytic
9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said cleansing bath
consists
10. A method as defined in claim 1 and including the steps of
rinsing and drying said elongated body after passage of the same
through said first
11. A method as defined in claim 1, and including the step of
sealing the anodized elongated body leaving said second
electrolytic means by passing
12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated body is
subjected to etching at a current density and for a period of time
such as to obtain by said etching a surface roughness of between
about 2 and 3
13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said etching is
carried out at a current density of about 20 amperes per 100 square
centimeters and for a
14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated body is
subjected to etching at a current density and for a period of time
such as to obtain by said etching a surface roughness of between
about 1 and 2
15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said etching is
carried out at a current density of about 15 amperes per 100 square
centimeters and for a
16. A method as defined in claim 1, and including the step of
continuously imparting color to said elongated body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for the
electrolytic etching (roughening) and electrolytic oxidation of
elongated aluminum bodies such as aluminum foils, bands or sheets.
The term "aluminum" is meant to denote not only pure or technically
pure aluminum, but also aluminum alloys which lend themselves to
electrolytic etching and anodization.
Etched or roughened foils or strips of aluminum are well known and
used for many industrial purposes. The etching of the surface of
the foils or strips may serve for technical or decorative purposes.
Such decorative purposes included the roughening of the surface of
aluminum wall coverings and the like. Industrial and technical
purposes are served by the roughening of aluminum foils or strips
which are to be used as printing foils or which are to be coated or
covered with pigments.
The roughening of aluminum surfaces by mechanical treatment,
chemical etching or electrochemical methods also is well known.
According to the conventional electrochemical methods for the
purpose of roughening an aluminum surface, primarily electrolytic
processes are utilized in which the aluminum body which is to be
treated serves as electrode in an acid bath which is in contact
with a further electrode. Depending on the other process
conditions, generally the electrolyic roughening requires a period
of the magnitude of several minutes.
The electrolytic oxidation of etched or roughened aluminum
surfaces, particularly in order to harden such surfaces and to make
them chemically resistant, also has been proposed. In accordance
with these methods, the roughened aluminum body which is to be
electrolytically oxidized is introduced as one of the electrodes
into an acid bath including an electrode of opposite polarity,
i.e., an electrolytic cell is formed in which the aluminum body
represents the anode.
Since according to the above-mentioned processes for the
electrolytic etching or roughening of aluminum bodies, as well as
for the electrolytic oxidation, the aluminum body serves as one of
the electrodes in an acid electrolyte, it was not possible up to
now to carry out electrolytic etching and electrolytic oxidation in
a continuous manner, i.e. so that the aluminum foil, strip, sheet
or the like would pass as a continuous strip sequentially through
the electrolytic etching and the electrolytic oxidizing device. By
proceeding in this manner, it would have been unavoidable that
short circuits from one cell to the other were caused by the
connecting aluminum strip. Consequently, it was necessary to carry
out the two electrolytic processes separated from each other,
thereby requiring relatively large expenditures for equipment,
operational personnel and also long periods of time for completing
the two processes.
Alternating current operated electrolytic cells are known which
comprise two chambers or compartments adjacent each other, each
equipped with a stationary electrode and containing electrolyte.
Alternating current is applied to the electrodes respectively
located in the two chambers, and the aluminum strip or the like
passing from one of the chambers to the other forms a bipolar
conductor therebetween.
It is also known to clean electrochemically etched aluminum
surfaces by brushing and rinsing, or chemically by immersion in a
bath of dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and
arrangement for the etching and anodizing of aluminum which will
permit to carry out the etching and anodizing of strips and the
like in a single continuous process, whereby a continuous strip
passes sequentially through an electrolytic etching cell and
therefrom through an electrolytic oxidizing cell. By proceeding in
this manner, i.e. in accordance with the present invention,
substantial savings on equipment, space, operating personnel and
process time are achieved and a product of highly uniform and
desired quality is obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention thus proposes a continuous method for
sequentially etching and anodizing aluminum sheets, foils and the
like, according to which such sheets, foils or strips of aluminum
or aluminum alloy which may be electrolytically etched and anodized
are passed through two sequentially arranged electrolytic devices
each connected to a source of electric current, so as to subject
the strip in the first of the electrolytic devices to etching and
in the second of the electrolytic devices to anodic oxidation. At
least one of the two electrolytic devices comprises two adjacent
compartments, each equipped with a stationary electrode and
containing electrolyte. Alternating current is applied to the
stationary electrodes in the two compartments and the strip forms
during its passage through the compartments a bipolar conductor
having portions within the respective compartments of the device.
The other of the two electrolytic devices may be of similar
structure, or may be an electrolytic single chamber cell including
electrolyte and a stationary electrode, wherein then the strip
passing therethrough will form the electrode of a polarity opposite
to that of the stationary electrode.
The first of the two devices will serve for etching and the second
for anodizing the strip. The electrolyte of the etching cell
preferably will consist of dilute hydrochloric or hydrofluoric
acid, whereas the electrolyte of the anodizing cell preferably will
consist of dilute sulfuric acid.
The external ohmic resistance between the sources of alternating
current (if two of the two-compartment cells are used) should be
such that no significant amount of current will flow in an external
conduit between the two sources of current, and no significant
amount of current should flow within the portion of the aluminum or
the like strip located between the two electrolytic devices.
The same conditions with respect to ohmic resistance will also
apply in cases where only one of the two electrolytic devices is of
the two-compartment type described above and the other is of the
above-described single chamber structure.
Preferably, the sources of electric current for the two
electrolytic devices will be independent from each other. Cleaning
baths, rinsing and drying devices may be interposed along the path
of the aluminum strip between the first and second electrolytic
devices, i.e. between the etching and anodizing of the strip, and
the anodized strip may be rinsed and sealed after leaving the
anodizing electrolytic device.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The
invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its
method of operation, together with additional objects and
advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following
description of specific embodiments when read in connection with
the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an arrangement according to
the present invention in which both electrolytic devices are of the
two-chamber alternating current type;
FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an arrangement according to the
present invention according to which the etching is carried out in
a two-chamber alternating current electrolytic device and the
anodizing is carried out in a direct current-operated single-cell
electrolytic device; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an arrangement according to
which the etching is carried out in a direct current, single-cell
electrolytic device and the oxidizing is carried out in an
alternating current two-chamber electrolytic device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to the present invention, the continuous, sequential
etching and anodizing of the aluminum strip or the like is carried
out by first electrolytically etching and thereafter
electrolytically oxidizing the continuous moving strip whereby at
least one of these two electrolytic processes is carried out in an
electrolytic device which comprises at least two chambers each
equipped with one electrode, whereby the electrodes are connected
to a source of alternating current. The strip passing sequentially
through the two chambers of this electrolytic device forms during
passage from one to the other of the two chambers a bipolar
conductor.
Thus, it is essential according to the present invention to utilize
for the etching and/or oxidation of the aluminum strip or the like
a two-chamber, alternating current electrolytic cell in which the
foil or strip which is to be treated, i.e. which is to be etched or
oxidized does not form one of the electrodes but only a bipolar
conductor whereby it is achieved that electric shunts between the
above-described electrolytic device and the other of the two
electrolytic devices will be avoided.
Thus, at least one of the two electrolytic devices must be of the
above-described two chamber type, whereas the other of the two
electrolytic devices may be of the same type or may be a direct
current electrolytic cell in which the aluminum strip passing
therethrough forms one of the two electrodes.
It is thus possible, in accordance with the present invention, to
carry out electrolytic etching as well as electrolytic oxidation
successively on one and the same continuous strip and the like
which passes in the indicated sequence through the two electrolytic
devices. It has been found that proceeding in accordance with the
present invention does not only substantially reduce the total time
requirement for etching and anodizing due to the fact that the
etching and anodizing may now be carried out in a continuous
manner, but furthermore, that the entire surface treatment can be
carried out in a period of less than 1 minute and will result in
aluminum or the like surfaces of very high quality. The total
surface treatment, i.e. the etching as well as the anodizing, is
carried out, in accordance with the present invention, in a
substantially automatic manner which also simplifies the control of
the process and particularly of the treating baths.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, electrolytic
etching as well as electrolytic oxidation is carried out in the
double or multichamber electrolytic devices described above each of
which comprises at least two chambers, each equipped with a single
stationary electrode and work, such as an aluminum strip or the
like extending through both chambers forming a bipolar conductor
but not one of the electrodes thereof.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
electrolytic etching is carried out in a direct current
electrolytic device in which the aluminum foil, strip or the like
forms the cathode, and the electrolytic oxidation is carried out in
a multichamber, alternating current electrolytic device as
described above.
However, this sequence may also be reversed, and thus, according to
still another embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic
etching is carried out in the multichamber, alternating current
electrolytic device whereas the electrolytic oxidation is carried
out in a direct current cell in which the foil or strip acts as the
anode.
It is also within the scope of the present invention to cleanse the
foil or strip after the electrolytic etching and prior to the
electrolytic oxidation in a, per se, known manner, for instance by
passage through a bath of dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide.
It is also possible and within the scope of the present invention
to subject the foil or strip during the continuous etching and
anodizing process to coloration. The sealing of the roughened and
electrolytically oxidized aluminum surfaces in boiling, de-ionized
water may also be combined with the above-described steps of the
process of the present invention. All of these additional treating
steps such as cleansing, coloring and sealing may be incorporated
into the single continuous pass of the aluminum strip, foil or the
like and thus are carried out in a particularly simple, economical
and quick manner.
The roughened or etched surface obtained by the method of the
present invention appears to be of better quality than that
obtained by conventional methods. For certain technical purposes,
particularly the utilization of the aluminum or aluminum foil or
strip as printing foil or plate, it has been found advantageous to
carry out the etching so as to achieve a surface roughness of
between 2 and 3 microns, which may be accomplished by subjecting
the strip, foil or the like to electrolytic etching at a current
density of 20 amperes per 100 square centimeters and for a period
of between 0.5 and 0.75 minutes.
If a surface roughness of only between 1 and 2 microns is desired,
preferably a current density of about 16 amperes per 100 square
centimeters will be applied for a period of between 0.5 and 0.75
minutes.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
arrangement for carrying out the above-described process will
comprise an electrolytic etching device represented by a
two-chamber, alternating current electrolytic cell in which the
aluminum strip or the like forms a bipolar conductor but is not
used as one of the electrodes, and which contains for instance a
dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid as electrolyte in both of the
chambers. The device will include suitable rollers or the like for
guiding the foil or band sequentially through the two chambers. The
foil or strip leaving the second or last of the chambers of the
etching device passes through a more or less conventional rinsing
bath or the like and then into a second two-chamber, alternating
current electrolytic device of the type described above in which,
however, the electrolyte is dilute aqueous sulfuric acid and which
also is equipped with suitable guide means for passing the foil or
strip sequentially through the two chambers of this second or
anodizing cell.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the
etching is carried out in a direct current electrolytic cell in
which the minus terminal of the source of direct current is in
contact with a guide roller for the foil or strip so that the foil
or strip while passing through this cell will become the negative
electrode. The cell contains dilute aqueous hydrofluoric acid as
electrolyte and is equipped with a stationary electrode connected
to the positive terminal of the source of direct current. Again,
suitable devices for the guiding of the strip through the direct
current etching cell are provided and the etched strip passes
through a rinsing bath or the like into an anodizing device which,
in this case, must be a two- or multichamber alternating current
electrolytic cell of the type described further above and holding
in both chambers dilute aqueous sulfuric acid as the electrolyte.
Again, suitable arrangements are made for guiding the foil or strip
sequentially through the two chambers of the anodizing device.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
etching device is a two-chamber alternating current electrolytic
cell of the type described above, holding dilute aqueous
hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte and provided with suitable
arrangements for guiding the foil or strip sequentially through the
two chambers of the electrolytic device and again the strip does
not form one of the electrodes but is in the nature of a bipolar
conductor passing through the two chambers of the cell. The
thus-etched strip is then passed through a rinsing device and from
there into a direct current, single-cell electrolytic device
holding dilute sulfuric acid as the electrolyte and provided with
guide means for passing the strip through the cell. In this case,
the guide means preferably include a conductive roller connected to
the positive terminal of a source of direct current so that the
strip upon contact with this roller will become the positive
electrode of the direct current electrolytic cell which is also
provided with a negative electrode connected to the negative
terminal of the source of direct current.
Preferably, in all of these embodiments of the present invention, a
bath holding dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide is interposed between
the etching and the anodizing device, again equipped with suitable
guide means for passing the etched strip therethrough, and this
bath will serve for cleansing of the etched foil prior to anodizing
of the same.
It is also within the scope of the present invention to include in
the continuous process of etching and anodizing and in the
arrangement for carrying out this process, a rinsing and sealing
device through which the anodized strip is passed and whereby the
sealing device may be a bath of boiling di-ionized water.
The following examples are given as illustrative only without,
however, limiting the invention to the specific details of the
examples.
In the examples, reference will be made to the Figures of the
drawing in which identical elements are identified by identical
reference numerals.
EXAMPLE 1
The present invention is described in the present example with
reference to FIG. 1 of the drawing as utilizing two double chamber
alternating current electrolytic devices. Aluminum strip 12 is fed
from coil 10 into the alternating current, two-chamber electrolytic
device 14.
Electrolytic device or cell 14 comprises two chambers 16 and 18
separated from each other by wall 17. Each of the chambers contains
dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid. Each of the chambers 16 and 17 is
equipped with one electrode, 32 and 34 respectively, which
electrodes are connected to a source of alternating current
identified by reference numeral 36. Coil or strip 12 passes over
guide roller 24 into first chamber 16 in the bottom portion of
which a further guide roller 26 is arranged. Another guide roller
20 is arranged substantially above separating wall 17 so that the
strip will pass through the electrolyte of chamber 16, then out of
the same over guide roller 20 into the electrolyte of chamber 18.
In second chamber 18 a further guide roller 28 is arranged near the
bottom thereof and the aluminum strip is guided thereby through
chamber 18 and from there by guide roller 30 out of the
electrolytic, alternating current etching device. It will be noted
that strip 12 does not form one of the electrodes and thus may be
called, particularly in the vicinity of guide roller 20, i.e.
between chambers 16 and 18, a "bipolar conductor."
The thus-etched strip is passed from guide roller 30 through a
rinsing device 38 in which electrolyte adhering to the strip is
removed. From there, strip 12 passes, suitably guided by rollers
42, through a cleansing device 40 which is represented by a
container holding dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide.
Electrolytic two-chamber cell 14, as well as cleansing device 40,
are provided with suitable, per se conventional, heating
arrangements which, for sake of clarity, have been omitted in the
drawing.
From cleansing container 40, the strip 12 is passed through a
second rinsing device 38 and from there through a conventional
heating device 46 for the purpose of being dried.
The thus-etched, cleansed and dried strip is then passed through an
electrolytic oxidation device 48, represented by a second
two-chamber, alternating current electrolytic cell which again
comprises two chambers 50 and 52 separated from each other by wall
51. The electrolyte in chambers 50 and 52 consists of dilute
aqueous sulfuric acid. Each of chambers 50 and 52 is equipped with
one electrode, 54 and 56 respectively, and electrodes 54 and 56 are
connected to a source of alternating current identified by
reference numeral 58. Somewhat different from the etching cell 14,
the strip is passed from chamber 50 to chamber 52 through a
suitable opening in wall 51, for instance through a rubber gasket
arranged in wall 51 so as to permit passage of the strip
therethrough without causing intermingling of the electrolyte of
the two chambers.
The arrangement used according to electrolytic cell 14 for the
passage of the strip from the first to the second chamber is
practical only if the strip is of sufficient flexibility, whereas
the arrangement utilized in electrolytic cell 48 will permit the
treatment of a strip of greater stiffness since the strip need not
be bent while passing from chamber 51 to chamber 52.
Thus, in any specific given case, it will have to be decided,
depending on the mechanical characteristics of the strip whether
the arrangement of cell 14 or the arrangement of cell 48 is best
suitable for the passage of the strip from the first to the second
chamber of the respective electrolytic device.
After leaving electrolytic device 48, the thus-anodized strip is
passed through another rinsing device 38 to a conventional drying
device 46 and the thus-dried, etched and anodized strip 12 may then
be wound to form a coil 68.
When it is desired to subject the anodized strip to sealing, it is
proposed to interpose a container 62 between last rinsing device 38
and last heating and drying device 46, through which the strip is
passed by suitable guide rollers 64, in which sealing of the oxide
layer is accomplished by contact with boiling deionized water.
The method of the present invention may be carried out in the
above-described device, for instance by utilizing as electrolyte in
the chambers 16 and 18 of etching cell 14 dilute aqueous
hydrochloric acid having a concentration of between 1.5 percent by
volume. The temperature of the dilute hydrochloric acid preferably
will be maintained between 20.degree. and 80.degree. C. and most
preferably at about 50.degree. .+-.10.degree. C.
The source of alternating current has a voltage of between 30 and
60 volts and a current density of between 5 and 25 amperes per 100
square centimeters is maintained. The strip is passed through the
etching cell at such speed as to obtain a treating time of between
30 and 45 seconds.
The second electrolytic two-chamber device 48 contains as
electrolyte dilute aqueous sulfuric acid having a concentration of
20 percent by volume and being maintained at a temperature of
between about 30.degree. and 50.degree. C. Anodizing is carried out
at a current density of between 10 and 30 amperes per 100 square
centimeters.
It would be possible, of course, to carry out in the context of the
present invention the cleansing of the etched strip by conventional
brushing of the same, but it is preferred to carry out chemical
cleansing in container 40 by passing the strip therein through
dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide having a concentration of about 0.5
percent by weight and being maintained at a temperature of about
40.degree. C.
Sealing of the etched and anodized strip is carried out in
container 62 by passing the strip therein through boiling deionized
or distilled water having a pH of between 5.6 and 6.0.
A surface roughness of between 2 and 3 microns was obtained by a
current density of 20 amperes per 100 square centimeters and a
treating time of between 30 and 45 seconds. Foils or plates of a
surface roughness within the above range are excellently suitable
for producing printing plates thereof.
A lesser degree of surface roughness, such as between about 1 and 2
microns, which generally suffices if the strip or foil is to be
used for decorative purposes, is obtained by reducing--under
otherwise equal conditions--the current density to about 16 amperes
per 100 square centimeters.
EXAMPLE 2
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described in
the present example with reference to FIG. 2 of the drawing in
which for sake of simplicity the arrangements for cleansing and
sealing have been omitted, although cleansing and sealing
arrangements may be included in the overall arrangement
schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 at the points thereof
corresponding to the points at which these arrangements appear in
FIG. 1.
The process and arrangement according to FIG. 2 differs from that
described in connection with FIG. 1 particularly by utilizing as
oxidizing electrolytic cell 70 a direct current electrolytic
device. The strip is passed through an etching device and ancillary
devices corresponding to those of FIG. 1 until it reaches guide
roller 74 which is connected to the positive terminal of a source
of direct current. From guide roller 74, the strip passes through
the electrolyte of electrolytic cell 70 which consists of dilute
sulfuric acid. For this purpose, three further guide rollers 80 are
indicated. A negative electrode 78 connected to the source of
direct current is immersed in the electrolyte.
The direct current anodizing device 70 may contain as electrolyte
dilute sulfuric acid having a concentration of about 20 percent by
volume and being maintained at a temperature of between about
35.degree. and 50.degree. C., and anodizing may be carried out at a
current density of between 3 and 8 amperes per 100 square
centimeters.
EXAMPLE 3
The embodiment of the present example will be described with
reference to FIG. 3 in which again certain ancillary devices
corresponding to those of FIG. 1 have been omitted.
The essential difference between the embodiment of FIG. 3 as
compared with that of FIG. 1 is that the etching is carried out in
a direct current electrolytic cell 82, whereas anodizing is carried
out in a two-chamber, alternating current electrolytic cell 48
which is substantially identical with cell 48 of FIG. 1.
According to the presently described example, strip 12 is fed from
coil 10 over guide roller 86 which is connected to the negative
terminal of the source of direct current and from there guided by
guide rollers 92 through the electrolyte of the cell which consists
of dilute hydrofluoric acid. The positive electrode 90, connected
to the positive terminal of the source of direct current is
immersed in the electrolyte.
The dilute hydrofluoric acid may have a concentration of 2 percent
by volume and preferably will be maintained at about 45.degree. C.
Etching is carried out at a current density of about 10 amperes per
100 square centimeters.
It will be understood from the description hereinabove that it is
essential according to the present invention to carry out at least
one of the two electrolytic processes, i.e., either the etching or
the anodizing or both, in a cell of the type identified by
reference numerals 14 and 48, respectively. It becomes possible
thereby to carry out the electrolytic etching and the electrolyte
oxidation of aluminum or aluminum alloy foil, strip 12 or the like
in a sequential, continuous manner and thereby to realize
substantial savings with respect to equipment, time and operating
personnel. Furthermore, the actual treating periods according to
the present invention are shorter than conventional treating
periods and the quality of the foils or strips etched and anodized
in accordance with the present invention compares favorably with
the results obtained by conventional methods particularly with
respect to the uniformity and evenness of the roughening or etching
of the strip. The control of the process is also greatly
simplified.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together, may also find a useful application in other
types of etching and anodizing devices differing from the types
described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied
in a continuous electrolytic etching and anodizing arrangement for
the treatment of aluminum and aluminum alloy foils, strips and the
like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since
various modifications and structural changes may be made without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can by applying current
knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly
constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific
aspects of this invention.
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