Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for electroplating particles of small dimension

US4316786A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1980
Grant dateFeb 23, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S376/916
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The thickness, uniformity, and surface smoothness requirements for surface coatings of glass microspheres for use as targets for laser fusion research are critical. Because of their minute size, the microspheres are difficult to manipulate and control in electroplating systems. The electroplating apparatus (10) of the present invention addresses these problems by providing a cathode cell (20) having a cell chamber (22), a cathode (23) and an anode (26) electrically isolated from each other and connected to an electrical power source (24). During the plating process, the cathode (23) is controllably vibrated along with solution pulse to maintain the particles in random free motion so as to attain the desired properties.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.