Apparatus for electroplating particles of small dimension

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864141

Yu, Conrad M ^[1]; Illige, John D ^[2]

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1. San Lorenzo, CA
2. Fremont, CA

The thickness, uniformity, and surface smoothness requirements for surface coatings of glass microspheres for use as targets for laser fusion research are critical. Because of their minute size, the microspheres are difficult to manipulate and control in electroplating systems. The electroplating apparatus (10) of the present invention addresses these problems by providing a cathode cell (20) having a cell chamber (22), a cathode (23) and an anode (26) electrically isolated from each other and connected to an electrical power source (24). During the plating process, the cathode (23) is controllably vibrated along with solution pulse to maintain the particles in random free motion so as to attain the desired properties.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4316786
• OSTI ID: 864141
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
electroplating
particles
dimension
thickness
uniformity
surface
smoothness
requirements
coatings
glass
microspheres
targets
laser
fusion
critical
minute
size
difficult
manipulate
control
systems
10
addresses
providing
cathode
cell
20
chamber
22
23
anode
26
electrically
isolated
connected
electrical
power
source
24
plating
process
controllably
vibrated
solution
pulse
maintain
random
free
motion
attain
desired
properties
surface coating
electrically isolated
power source
electrical power
laser fusion
glass microspheres
surface smoothness
cell chamber
surface coatings
electrically isolate
desired properties
free motion
glass microsphere
cathode cell
plating apparatus
plating process
/204/205/376/