APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOSITING ALUMINUM

1521418 Aluminium electro-plating using sealed apparatus SIEMENS AG 12 Aug 1976 [21 Aug 1975] 33679/76 Heading C7B A workpiece is electrolytically coated with metal (e.g. Al) from an aprotic water-free electrolyte in the absence of free oxygen by placing in a gas lock chamber 19, Fig. 1, attaching to a support and transfer device 36, sealing the outer opening 30 of the gas lock chamber, flooding the gas lock chamber with an oxygen-free non-reacting gas e.g. N 2 , He, Ar, Krypton or gaseous hydrocarbon, to expel air from the chamber, opening a second opening 18 in the gas lock chamber communicating with electrolyte tank 1, passing the workpiece into the tank and transferring it to an electrical contact making support 7, sealing the second opening 18 and passing an electrical current between anodes 14 and the workpiece which may be laterally reciprocated. After coating the workpiece is removed via the gas lock and may be sprayed therein with a mixing liquid e.g. xylol or tolual. Excess oxygen free gas may be removed from the electrolysis tank via reflux condenser 22. Alternatively the workpiece 74 may be treated in a heated annular electrolyte tank 50 Fig. 2 and rotated about an upright axis by support 61 and motor 66.