Anode applicators include consumable anodes, that can be operated in a non-stationary mode and are insensitive to orientation, are used in selective plating/brush electrodeposition of coatings or free-standing components. The flow-through dimensionally- stable, consumable anodes employed are perforated/porous to provide relatively unimpeded electrolyte flow and operate at low enough electrochemical potentials to provide for anodic metal/alloy dissolution avoiding undesired anodic reactions. The consumable anodes include consumable anode material(s) in high surface area to reduce the local anodic current density. During electroplating, sufficient electrolyte is pumped through the consumable anodes at sufficient flow rates to minimize concentration gradient and/or avoid the generation of chlorine and/or oxygen gas and/or undesired reaction such as the anodic oxidation of P-bearing ions in the electrolyte. The active consumable anode material(s) can have a microstructure which is fine-grained and/or amorphous to ensure a uniform anodic dissolution.
A metal-clad polymer article includes a polymeric material with or without particulate addition. The polymeric material defines a permanent substrate. A metallic material covers at least part of a surface of the polymeric material. The metallic material has a microstructure which, at least in part, is at least one of fine-grained with an average grain size between 2 and 5,000 nm and amorphous. The metallic material has an elastic limit between 0.2% and 15%. At least one intermediate layer can be provided between the polymeric material and the metallic material. A stress on the polymeric material, at a selected operating temperature, reaches at least 60% of its ultimate tensile strength at a strain equivalent to the elastic limit of said metallic material.
Articles containing fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers on at least part of their exposed surfaces are imprinted with surface structures to raise the contact angle for water in the imprinted areas at room temperature by equal to or greater than 10°, when compared to the flat and smooth metallic material surface of the same composition.
C23C 30/00 - Coating with metallic material characterised only by the composition of the metallic material, i.e. not characterised by the coating process
C25D 5/16 - Electroplating with layers of varying thickness
Super-hydrophobic and self-cleaning articles produced by imprinting exposed surfaces with suitable fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic embossing dies to transfer a dual surface structure, including ultra- fine features less than or equal to 100nm embedded in and overlaying a surface topography with macro-surface structures greater than or equal to 1 micron are disclosed.
B29C 37/00 - Component parts, details, accessories or auxiliary operations, not covered by group or
B29C 59/02 - Surface shaping, e.g. embossingApparatus therefor by mechanical means, e.g. pressing
B08B 17/06 - Preventing deposition of fouling or of dust by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape for arrangement
B29C 39/02 - Shaping by casting, i.e. introducing the moulding material into a mould or between confining surfaces without significant moulding pressureApparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
B29C 39/14 - Shaping by casting, i.e. introducing the moulding material into a mould or between confining surfaces without significant moulding pressureApparatus therefor for making articles of indefinite length
B29C 43/02 - Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding materialApparatus therefor of articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
B29C 43/22 - Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding materialApparatus therefor of articles of indefinite length
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