Separated electrode system in electrolytically setting or hardening

Abstract

A molding apparatus for hardening, finishing and shaping reactive cement te by utilizing electrolysis and electrophoresis. The molding apparatus confines a reactive paste in a porous mold, out of direct contact with electrodes. The electrodes are immersed in chambers filled with an electrolyte and are separated from the mold by a filter and perforated support. When a current is applied to the electrodes, the electrolyte decomposes forming a reactive solution that will harden the paste after contact. The filter on the perimeter of the mold, prevents particulates or bubbles, coming from the electrodes, from passing through to the porous mold distorting the hardening paste. In order to uniformly harden a solid or asymmetric shaped section, the movement of the reactive solution through the paste requires that a set of electrodes surrounding the solid or asymmetric section be energized, in pairs, with two electrodes on opposite sides of the configuration, constituting a pair. Each pair receives a direct current for a specific period of time, when the required time is completed, the direction of the current is reversed using a polarity-reversing switch. Upon hardening, the mold imparts the shape and the finish of the inside of the mold onto the reactive paste.