Ford Motor Company Limited

William A Donakowski

John R Morgan

Leonard G Cordone

Electrolytic codeposition of zinc and graphite and resulting product

An aluminum article is cleaned to prepare it for plating by soaking it in an aqueous solution containing sodium metasilicate, sodium pyrophosphate and sodium tetraborate at 140.degree.-180.degree. F. The article is then washed by a power spray of a second solution, constituted the same as the first cleaning solution, at 110.degree.-130.degree. F. The article is subsequently rinsed with water and immersed in an aqueous nitric acid solution.

Method for cleaning aluminum articles

A plated aluminum product, and the method of making such product is disclosed for use in automotive bumpers. A plated outer decorative coating is used and is preferably constituted of chromium (0.000005-0.00005' thick) on nickel (0.0003-0.003' thick). An electroplated pretreatment system is employed between the outer decorative coating and aluminum alloy and consists essentially of at least a brass strike containing, for purposes of increased lateral corrosion resistance, an as-deposited copper content in the range of 60-75% by weight, and the aluminum substrate should preferably be restricted to a zinc content of 4.5-5.5%. The pretreatment system may be expanded to include a copper layer encased in two layers of brass, a first layer most adjacent the aluminum substrate containing said 60-75% copper and a second brass layer most adjacent the decorative coating containing 50-60% copper. The plating solution for carrying out the brass plating is constituted to provide enhanced covering and throwing power, and specifically may contain 3.6-9.6 oz./gal. sodium cyanide, the ratio of sodium cyanide to metal should be 0.12-1.6 times the metal, 2-5 oz./gal. sodium hydroxide, 4-12 oz./gal. sodium carbonate, and a total brass metal content of 3-6 oz./gal. divided to contain 68-85% copper and 15-32% zinc.

Method of plating light weight metal to enhance lateral corrosion

A plated aluminum product, and the method of making such product is disclosed for use in automotive bumpers. A plated outer decorative coating is used and is preferably constituted of chromium (0.000005-0.00005' thick) on nickel (0.0003-0.003' thick.) An electroplated pretreatment system is employed between the outer decorative coating and aluminum alloy and consists essentially of at least a brass strike containing, for purposes of increased lateral corrosion resistance, an as-deposited copper content in the range of 60-75% by weight, and the aluminum substrate should preferably be restricted to a zinc content of 4.5-5.5%. The pretreatment system may be expanded to include a copper layer encased in two layers of brass, a first layer most adjacent the aluminum substrate containing said 60-75% copper and a second brass layer most adjacent the decorative coating containing 50-60% copper. The plating solution for carrying out the brass plating is constituted to provide enhanced covering and throwing power, and specifically may contain 3.6-9.6 oz./gal. sodium cyanide, the ratio of sodium cyanide to metal should be 0.12-1.6 times the metal, 2-5 oz./gal. sodium hydroxide 4-12 oz./gal. divided to contain 68-85% copper and 15-32% zinc.

Method of adherency of electrodeposits on light weight metals

A method of treating an aluminum article prior to plating by first cleaning the article to be substantially free of aluminum oxide and then immersing the article in a solution containing sodium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, trisodium phosphate and sodium carbonate.

A cost saving method for protecting an engine element against operation galling and corrosion is disclosed. The element, particularly a piston, is cast of aluminum and cleaned free of dirt and organic matter. A warm stream of an aqueous solution containing a protective metal agent is directed onto a selected zone of the element. The agent consists essentially of potassium stannate and the zone is preferably the middle region of a piston skirt extending from the upper skirt periphery to lower skirt extremity (tail). The stream is maintained as a laminar flow as it traverses the selected zone. An ultra-thin protective coating is adherently deposited on the zone of the piston.

Selective tin deposition onto aluminum piston skirt areas

A method is disclosed for preparing a coated rotor housing useful in a rotary internal combustion engine. A first mandrel is defined from conductive material such as a chrome-bearing steel. The outer surface of the first mandrel is shaped to be the mirror image of the resultant internal surface of the rotor housing; the first mandrel material is passivated preferably by the use of boiling water to form a chrome oxide material on the outer surface to prevent adhesion of surrounding coated materials. A thin, composite-particle wear-resistant coating is electrolytically deposited on to the first mandrel to form an assembly. The wear-resistant coating is preferably comprised of nickel carrying embedded silicon carbide particles. The first mandrel is stripped from the deposited thin coating leaving a self-supporting liner or sleeve, the liner may be used in its unitary form or may be sliced into smaller liner bands for separate processing. The liner is placed about a brother mandrel (identical in shape to the first mandrel, but previously preheated by use in the die-cast machine) and together they are inserted into a die-cast machine. Molten aluminum is supplied to the machine for casting about said liner to define a complete housing construction, the liner offering high wear-resistance.

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Dearborn Heights, MI, United States of America

William A Donakowski