The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 23, 2018
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2017
Alexander Smirnov, Huntsville, AL (US);
Scott O'dell, Arab, AL (US);
Anatoliy Shchetkovskiy, Owens Cross Roads, AL (US);
Alexander Smirnov, Huntsville, AL (US);
Scott O'Dell, Arab, AL (US);
Anatoliy Shchetkovskiy, Owens Cross Roads, AL (US);
Plasma Processes, LLC, Huntsville, AL (US);
Abstract
This invention provides an electrolyte salt for use in an electrodeposition process for depositing Zirconium metal on a thin foil substrate. The prior art electrochemical process causes a reaction between a uranium substrate and ZrFspecies in the electrolyte that causes the formation of UFat the substrate surface that prevents the formation of a dense uniform zirconium coating. This problem is solved by using an electrolyte salt in an electrodeposition process consisting of lithium fluoride (LiF) in a concentration ranging between about 11.5 molar percent and about 61 molar percent and one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride (NaF), potassium fluoride (KF), cesium fluoride (CsF), or cesium chloride (CsCL). Zirconium is added to the electrolyte salt through an addition of zirconium fluoride (ZrF) in the range of about 1 to about 5 mass percent (w/w %). The Zr coating is of at least 98% pure Zr with a density of at least 98%.