Alloy Surfaces Company, Inc.

Frank J Clark

Alfonso L Baldi

A coating composition and process have been developed to provide an activated coating on nickel screen for use as cathodes in electrolytic cells for the generation of hydrogen and oxygen. Compared to the earlier Classical Pack Cementation process, the disclosed process is less expensive, reduces processing time from 20 hours to a few minutes, eliminates dusts and toxic gases, and provides improved performance in cells for hydrogen and oxygen generation. The coating is characterized by the presence of two activated layers with a high surface area, a multitude of fissures and a nickel to aluminum weight ratio greater than 20/1 in the top layer and greater than 4/1 in the bottom layer adjacent to the nickel substrate.

Activated nickel screens and foils

The present invention is directed to the encapsulation of pyrophoric materials in a high temperature resistant membrane having at least one perforation which allows air to contact the pyrophoric material. By controlling the accessibility of the pyrophoric material to the surrounding air, it is possible to reduce the kinetics of the oxidation reaction without affecting the thermodynamics of the reaction. This results in a product that demonstrates a lower peak temperature, longer dwell time at the lower temperature and, in most cases, an increase in the total heat energy output in comparison to an identical pyrophoric material that is not so encapsulated.

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Newark, DE, United States of America

Frank J Clark