US4643918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous process for the metal coating of fiberglass
Assignee: Fiber Materials Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-03
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Granted: 1987-02-17
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Expires: 2005-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of preparation of fiberglass filaments for subsequent coating with metal wherein the fiberglass filaments first are immersed in a wetter solution containing alcohol, a detergent, and an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer surfactant. Following this treatment the filaments may be treated with conventional palladium chloride or tin chloride activators, followed by treatment with an acid accelerator and then autocatalytically coated with metals such as copper, gold, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and nickel alloys of phosphorus, boron, or tungsten. A second electroplating or immersion plating step may be included where the metal-coated filaments are electroplated or immersion plated with either the same metal, or a different metal taken from the group consisting of nickel, silver, zinc, cadmium, platinum, iron, cobalt, chromium, tin, lead, rhodium, ruthenium, or iridium. The filaments are rinsed with water following immersion in the wetter solution and after each plating step and then finally are rinsed with alcohol and dried.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph F. Orban
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:34
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/18; C23C18/1851; C23C18/1872; C23C18/1886; C23C18/1893; C23C18/1862; C23C18/1865; C23C18/1889
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of continuously coating fiberglass filaments with metal comprising the steps of: immersing said filaments in a wetter solution containing alcohol, a detergent and an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer surfactant, rinsing said filaments with water, treating said filaments with an activator selected from the group consisting of palladium chloride and tin chloride, treating said filaments with an acid accelerator, coating said filaments with a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and nickel alloys of phosphorus, boron, or tungsten, rinsing said filaments with water, rinsing said filaments with alcohol, drying said filaments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of continuously coating fiberglass filaments with metal comprising the steps of: immersing said filaments in a wetter solution containing alcohol, a detergent and an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer surfactant, rinsing said filaments with water, treating said filaments with an activator selected from the group consisting of palladium chloride and tin chloride, treating said filaments with an acid accelerator, coating said filaments with a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and nickel alloys of phosphorus, boron, or tungsten, rinsing said filaments with water, rinsing said filaments with alcohol, drying said filaments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, immediately prior to rinsing said filaments with alcohol, said metal-coated filaments are coated with a second metal, which metal is the same as the metal first used to coat said filaments, then rinsing said thus coated filaments with water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said filaments are coated by a process selected from the group consisting of autocatalytic coating, electroplating, and immersion plating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alcohol is isopropyl alcohol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the filaments are coated by a process selected from the group consisting of autocatalytic coating, electroplating, and immersion plating.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of continuously coating fiberglass filaments with metal comprising the steps of: immersing said filaments in a wetter solution containing alcohol, a detergent and an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer surfactant, rinsing said filaments with water, treating said filaments with an activator selected from the group consisting of palladium chloride and tin chloride, treating said filaments with an acid accelerator, coating said filaments with a metal taken from the group consisting of copper, gold, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and nickel alloys of phosphorous, boron, and tungsten, rinsing said filaments with water, coating said metal-coated filaments with a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, silver, zinc, cadmium, platinum, iron, cobalt, chromium, tin, lead, rhodium, ruthenium, and iridium, rinsing said filaments with water, rinsing said filaments with alcohol, drying said filaments.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of continuously coating fiberglass filaments with metal comprising the steps of: immersing said filaments in a wetter solution containing alcohol, a detergent and an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymer surfactant, rinsing said filaments with water, treating said filaments with an activator selected from the group consisting of palladium chloride and tin chloride, treating said filaments with an acid accelerator, coating said filaments with a metal taken from the group consisting of copper, gold, palladium, cobalt, nickel, and nickel alloys of phosphorous, boron, and tungsten, rinsing said filaments with water, coating said metal-coated filaments with a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, silver, zinc, cadmium, platinum, iron, cobalt, chromium, tin, lead, rhodium, ruthenium, and iridium, rinsing said filaments with water, rinsing said filaments with alcohol, drying said filaments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said filaments are coated by a process selected from the group consisting of autocatalytic coating, electroplating, and immersion plating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-16 | 1990-08-18 | 1991-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-16 | 1994-08-18 | 1995-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-16 | 1998-08-18 | 1999-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |