Electroplating Cell Anode

The present invention relates to an anode for an electrolytic plating cell for plating continuous strip, and particularly to an anode having a replaceable, electrocatalytically coated active surface.

Electrocatalytically coated anodes for continuous electrolytic coating of large objects, for instance metal plating of steel coils, are well known. An example of an electrolytic deposition process is electrogalvanizing strip steel. For such deposition, a substrate metal such as steel in sheet form, feeding from a coil, is passed through an electrolytic coating cell, often at high line speed. Electrocatalytically coated anodes for such cells have a long life, and they resist being consumed. This provides a constant gap between the anode the cathode without requiring periodic adjustments. Such anodes usually comprise a substrate made of a valve metal such as titanium, tantalum, or niobium. The active face of the substrate has a coating that can be exemplified by a precious metal such as platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and alloys and oxides thereof. The active face can also be a precious metal oxide, or a metal oxide such as magnetite, ferrite, or cobalt spinel, with or without a precious metal oxide. Despite the long life of these anodes, there is still the need for an anode having an active anode surface which is readily replaceable, or which has segments which are readily replaceable, in the event of damage to the anode or a part of the anode or so that the coating can be renewed, as for a spent anode.

Prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,173 discloses an anode for electrolytic deposition of metal from an electrolytic solution onto an elongated strip of metal drawn longitudinally past the anode. The anode is submerged in the electrolytic solution and comprises an active surface which is directed towards the metal strip. The active surface comprises a plurality of lamellas supported so that they conform to the path of the metal strip. Only planar paths for the metal strip are disclosed. The lamellas are welded to a support and thus are not readily replaceable.

Prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 309,518, filed on Feb. 10, 1989, assigned to assignee of the present application, discloses a substantially planar shaped and inflexible anode having a free face adapted to electrodeposit, for instance by electrogalvanizing, a coating onto a rapidly moving cathode such as a steel coil strip. The anode is desirably stable and is capable of maintaining a uniform spacing with a cathode. The anode comprises anode segments defining a broad flat anode face. At least one of the anode segments is bias cut in relation to the direction of travel of the cathode.

Prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,971, filed Mar. 31, 1988, also assigned to assignee of the present application, discloses a massive and inflexible anode of generally planar shape which contains a mosaic of modular anodes. Each modular anode has an electrically conductive support plate serving as a current distributor for the modular anode. The modular anode has an active surface facing the strip being electroplated. A plurality of fasteners are welded to the opposite inactive face of each modular anode. The fasteners are, in turn, bolted to the support plate.

Prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,115 discloses an apparatus for electroplating an elongated strip of metal drawn longitudinally past a positively charged anode assembly submerged in a bath of an electrolytic solution. The anode assembly comprises a plurality of flat segments which are bolted to a support frame. The segments can be vertically or horizontally arranged in the electrolytic bath. In the event of damage to one segment, that segment can be replaced without replacing the entire anode assembly.

The present invention in one aspect resides in an anode structure especially adapted for conformance with a cathode of unusual shape, which anode comprises a rigid support anode substructure member, said substructure member having a predetermined configuration; a resilient anode sheet element having an active anode surface; and means flexing said anode sheet element onto said anode substructure member so that said active anode surface conforms at least substantially to said anode substructure member configuration.

Other invention aspects include an electroplating assembly, plus a method of making an anode.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electroplating cell is an electrogalvanizing cell and the cathode strip can be in strip form which may be a strip of steel. Also, in an embodiment of the present invention, the path of travel of a cathode covers a segment of a cylinder and the support anode substructure is radially disposed with respect to such path of travel and equidistantly displaced at all points from said path of travel. The anode sheet preferably comprises a plurality of segments independently held on the support anode substructure member.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled-in-the-art to which the present invention relates from reading the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a schematic, elevation, section view of an electroplating cell for electroplating a continuous strip in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation section view of a portion of the electroplating cell of FIG. 1 showing the cell anode;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the anode of FIG. 2, but with the anode turned 90.degree. from its position in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view showing a portion of the anode of FIG. 2 prior to assembly;

FIG. 5 is a section view showing a portion of the anode of FIG. 2 following assembly;

FIG. 6 is a partial elevation section view of an anode illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial elevation section view of an anode illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a partial elevation section view of an anode illustrating a still further embodiment of the present invention.

The electrolytic cell of the present invention is particularly useful in an electroplating process in which a deposit of a metal, such as zinc is made onto a moving cathode strip. An example of such a process is electrogalvanizing in which zinc is continuously galvanized onto a strip fed from a steel coil.

However, the electrolytic cell of the present invention can also be used in other electrodeposition processes, for instance plating other metals such as cadmium, nickel, tin, and metal alloys such as nickel-zinc, onto a substrate. The cell of the present invention can also be used in non-plating processes such as anodizing, electrophoresis, and electropickling, where a continuously moving strip of metal is passed through a cell bath. The anode of the electrolytic cell of the present invention can also be used in such non-plating applications as batteries and fuel cells, and in such processes as the electrolytic manufacturer of chlorine and caustic soda.

Referring to FIG. 1, the electrolytic cell 12, of the present invention comprises a cylindrical roller 14 which is at least partially immersed in an electrolytic bath 16. A continuous strip 18, for instance a strip of steel, is fed from a coil (not shown) into the bath and around the roller 14. The strip 18 functions, in the embodiment illustrated, as the cell cathode. Currents can be supplied to the strip 18 through the roller 14, or by other means well known in the electrodeposition art.

The cathode strip 18 moves circumferentially on the cylindrical roller 14. In the case of galvanizing, a strip such as of steel moves rapidly along a path of travel shown by arrow 20 which is defined by the cathode roller 14 and which generally conforms the surface of the roller 14.

The electrolytic cell 12 comprises an anode 24. Details of the anode are shown in FIG. 2. The anode 24 comprises an anode sheet 26 and an anode substructure 28. The anode sheet 26 has an active anode surface 30 which faces the cathode strip 18. Preferably, the active anode surface 30 is an electrocatalytic coating. Examples of electrocatalytic coatings are platinum or other platinum group metals such as palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and alloys thereof. Alternatively, the active coating can be an active oxide such as a platinum group metal oxide, magnetite, ferrite, and cobalt-spinel. The active oxide coating can also be a mixed metal oxide coating developed for use as an anode coating in electrochemical processes. The platinum group metal and mixed metal oxides for the coatings are such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,265,526, 2,632,498, 3,711,385, and 4,528,084. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Mixed metal oxides include at least one of the oxides of the platinum group in combination with at least one oxide of a valve metal or other non-precious metal.

The anode sheet 26 to which the active anode surface 30 is applied can be any metal which is suitably resistant to the electrolyte and is electrically conductive. Such metals include the valve metals such as titanium, tantalum, and niobium, as well as their alloys and intermetallic mixtures. Advantageously, for combining electrical conductivity with resistance to electrolyte, the sheet is titanium or a plated metal such as titanium clad copper, aluminum or steel.

The anode sheet 26 can be supplied as a thin gauge resilient rolled sheet having sufficient flexibility so that it can be flexed into an operative position using fasteners, e.g., the bolts 62 (FIG. 5), and a torque applied using hand operated tools. Also, it should have sufficient thickness to carry current from a current connection throughout the anode active surface 30, and sufficient strength or memory that it retains, in the absence of applied force, the shape imparted to it by rolling or other forming. Broadly, by way of example, the anode sheet 26 has a thickness of about 0.01 inch to about 0.5 inch. A thin, coated titanium sheet rolled, or otherwise formed, preferably has a thickness of from about 0.100 to about 0.25 inch. The thinner sheets of about 0.25 inch thickness or less can be easier to install and coat, and have a lower material cost.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the anode substructure 28 comprises end bars 36, 38 which extend the full width of the substructure 28, and an intermediate filler plate 40 which is positioned between the end bars 36, 38. The end bars 36, 38 and the filler plate 40 seat on a suitable flat support substrate 42. The support substrate 42 is not part of the present invention and is not described herein in detail, it being understood that such can be expected to be metallic, e.g., titanium, copper or steel. Together, the end bars 36, 38 and filler plate 40 define a concave upper surface which is machined or fabricated to very close tolerances to match the path of travel 20 of the cathode strip 18. By "matching", it is meant that the concave surface is substantially equidistantly spaced at all points from the path of travel 20 and concentric to the surface of the cathode roller 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the end bars 36, 38 are bolted by means of spaced apart bolts 46 to the support substrate 42. The filler plate 40, in turn, is provided with flanges 50 (FIG. 4) which are secured to, by spaced apart screws 52, the inside seats 54 of the end bars 36, 38.

The anode substructure 28 broadly can be made of any material capable of being precision machined or fabricated to close tolerances, which is compatible with the chemical environment of the cell, and which provides electrical conductivity for current distribution to the anode sheet 26. The anode substructure 28 also should have sufficient mechanical strength to remain rigid while holding the anode sheet 26 in the desired shape. In the specific case of electrogalvanizing, the end bars 36, 38 are typically made of a valve metal and preferably of titanium or its alloys or intermetallic mixtures, while the filler plate 40 may be metallic or ceramic, but is preferably of a high strength plastic (polymeric) material which is resistant to the chemical environment of the cell. The titanium preferred end bars provide highly desirable current carrying capability as well as rigidity. It is however broadly contemplated to manufacture the entire substructure of end bars 36, 38 and filler plate 40 of titanium, or other valve metal, as well as to use one or more segments, rather than one solid piece for the filler plate 40. Other materials that may be used include clad or coated structures, for instance steel clad with titanium. Examples of suitable high strength polymeric materials for the filler plate 40 include polyhalocarbon polymers, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide polymers such as nylon and polyolefins such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

As shown in FIG. 3, the anode sheet 26 is in the form of a plurality of segments 26a, 26b, and 26c, positioned side-by-side across the width of the anode. The segments are separated by lines of separation 34 that are biased with respect to the direction of travel of a cathode strip. This avoids unevenness of the plating of the strip due to edge effects. The anode sheet 26 is mounted over the filler plate 40, with its flanges 50 (FIG. 4), as well as mounted over the end bars 36, 38.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a representative fabrication technique for one embodiment of the anode of the present invention. In this fabrication of the anode 24, the anode sheet 26 is formed with a radius which is less than the radius of the concave surface defined by the end bars 36,38 and the filler plate 40. In this way, the anode sheet 26 when placed upon the concave surface in an only partially flexed state, can have an about one to two millimeter gap 58 along the sheet edges as shown in FIG. 4. To conform the anode sheet 26 to the machined close tolerance concave surface of the sheet substrate, the edges of the anode sheet are flexed downwardly and secured to the end bars 36, 38 by means of bolts 62 (FIG. 5). Flexing the anode sheet down in this manner forces it to conform exactly to the concave surface of the anode substructure 28. Furthermore, securing the anode sheet 26 in this way secures the end bars 36, 38 by the bolts 62 on the side of the anode sheet 26. This is removed from the active area of the anode sheet 26, thereby avoiding problems such as uneven plating due to fasteners. Also, the active anode surface need not extend to the side area under the bolts 62. It is also contemplated that a serviceable embodiment of the invention can be provided when the anode sheet 26 is formed with a radius of curvature which is greater than the radius of the concave surface defined by the end bars 36, 38 and the filler plate 40. The anode sheet 26 may then be only partially flexed to be in contact with, and fastened to, the end bars 36, 38. Such positioning will thereby retain a gap between the anode sheet 26 and the filler plate 40.

The current distribution to the anode sheet 26 is through the bolts 46 which secure the end bars 36, 38 to the support substrate 42. The connections (not shown) preferably are made such that the current is distributed in the direction of travel of strip 18. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, this is from end bar 38 to the anode sheet 26 to the end bar 36.

The present invention has advantages over other anode designs in that it allows the use of thin coated anode sheets which are more easily replaced and recoated than conventional anodes, as well as being less expensive than conventional anodes. The present invention also allows for replacing segments so that only spent or damaged anode sheet segments need to be replaced. The substructure 28, while being moderately expensive, need only typically be fabricated and installed once, and serves the functions of maintaining tolerances and distributing current. This allows a less critical tolerance, and less material, for the coated anode sheets. In conventional designs, the anodes are thick machined parts, each requiring the ability to carry current. The parts must be of high tolerance and thus higher costs. The thickness of the conventional anodes as well as the machined surfaces makes applying a long life high quality coating more difficult.

The present invention is applicable to substructures other than those having a concave configuration. For instance, the present invention can be used with anodes that are flat, or which have a convex configuration. For instance, for a flat anode, the anode substrate can be flat, and the anode sheet can be a cylindrical segment or curved so that it has to be flexed into conformity with the substructure surface. It is also contemplated that for a flat substructure and a cylindrical segment shaped anode, that the anode can be partially flexed or the like whereby it is mounted on a flat substructure but retains curvature such as for example to retain conformity with a complementary cathode curvature. In the case of a convex curved or cylindrical anode, the anode sheet may have a larger radius that the substructure. The anode sheet is then flexed into position by wrapping it around the substructure. In such case, the anode sheet would be placed in tension, for instance by a band clamp, to make it conform to the shape of the substructure.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this figure, the substructure 70 is a solid coated titanium plate in which opposed edges 72 are vertically aligned rather than at an angle as in the embodiments in FIGS. 1-5. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, there is no filler plate insert between end bars. Furthermore, for enhancing electrical conductivity there is a voltage-minimizing coating 77 between the substructure 70 and the support substrate 42 at the bolt 46.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate still further embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the anode sheet 76 is fastened to the substructure 78 by means of flathead screws 80 countersunk into the surface of the anode sheet. At the juncture of the screws 80 with the substructure 78 there is a voltage-minimizing coating 77. A similar such coating 79 is placed between the substructure 78 and the support substrate 42 at the bolt 46. It is to be understood that such a coating 77, 79 is contemplated as being useful for the structure of any of the figures where a connection is obtained between electrically conducting elements. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the anode sheet 82 is rolled to a desired radius and then fixed at this radius by welding the curved sheet 82 on its inactive side 84 to the substructure 86 as with the weld 88. The substructure 86 in this embodiment may be a plurality of spaced-apart curved I-beams which are suitably shaped and held together. The I-beams would serve as current distributors as well as the substructure support. The welding can be supplemented by using countersunk screws 89 for fastening the anode sheet 82 to the substructure 86. In an embodiment where the substructure 86 is apertured, the screws 89 could be replaced with studs, not shown, welded to the inactive side 84 of the anode sheet, and bolted from below within the apertures of the substructure 86. It is also contemplated that the countersunk screws 89, with or without studs, could be utilized when welding the anode sheet 76 to the substructure 78 and that brazing may also be employed when fastening the anode sheet 76 to the substructure 78. Usually, the use of removable metal fasteners, e.g., bolts and screws, is preferred where the anode sheet 26 is segmented and segments will be removed for refurbishing or replacement.

For the bolts 46 and 62, and the screws 52, 80 and 89, it is most desirable to use a highly conductive metal, e.g., copper. Such might be copper, copper alloy or steel, including stainless and high strength steel. Since copper metal might be subject to attack, as from the electrolyte in an electrogalvanizing environment, copper connectors will usually be covered, including cladding, plating, explosion bonding or welding, with a more inert metal, i.e., a valve metal. Where a voltage-minimizing coating is utilized, application by electroplating operation is preferred for economy, although other coating operations, e.g., brush plating, plasma arc spraying or vapor deposition, may be employed. For the metal titanium, e.g., when used as the anode sheet 76 and there will be a coating 77 between the sheet 76 and the substructure 78, it is advantageous to use a plated noble metal coating. Such a noble metal coating is a coating of one or more of the Group VIII or Group IB metals having an atomic weight of greater than 100, i.e., the metals ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum and gold. Preferably for efficiency in enhanced electrical contact, platinum plating is used.