Method of making an anode

The process for producing anodes on fixtures comprises the following steps. A stringer with risers of film forming metal welded at right angles to the stringer is lowered into row of cavities in an elastomeric mold which have been filled with a slurry including a freezable bonding agent and film-forming metal powder. The risers are centered in the cavities. The powder slurry is frozen with the risers held in registration with the mold pattern. After solidification of the slurry the stringer is withdrawn and the frozen anodes are pulled out of the mold cavities. Predrying preferably with the risers in place prior to freezing removes excess water so that the anodes after thawing will retain their shape and have sufficient strength to withstand the limited handling necessary to transfer them to the sintering equipment. Sintering is preferably done in a horizontal furnace, and preferably special fixtures or a belt to hold the stringer in either horizontal or vertical position so that none of the anodes come in contact with any of the parts of the system while the stringers are carried through the furnace for sintering. The stringers are then removed from the belt for further processing.