Claims
- 1. An electrically enhanced method for treating an electrically conductive surface comprising:
contacting the surface with an aqueous medium comprising at least one water soluble silicate and having a basic pH, establishing an electrolytic environment within the medium wherein the surface is employed as a cathode, passing a current through said surface and medium at a rate and period of time sufficient to react at least a portion of the surface with at least one constituent of the medium.
- 2. An aqueous medium for use in an electrically enhanced method for treating a conductive surface comprising a combination of: at least one water soluble silicate, and at least one water soluble dopant wherein the medium has a basic pH.
- 3. A cathodic method for forming a mineral coating upon a metal or electrically conductive surface comprising:
exposing the surface to an aqueous medium comprising at least one water soluble silicate wherein said medium has a basic pH, establishing an electrolytic environment within the medium wherein the surface is employed as a cathode, passing a current through the silicate medium and the surface for a period of time and under conditions sufficient to form a mineral coating upon the metal surface.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the silicate containing medium comprises sodium silicate.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lead, copper, zinc, aluminum, stainless steel and steel.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising a post-treatment comprising contacting with at least one source of carbonate.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the source of at least one carbonate comprises at least one member chosen from the group of lithium carbonate, lithium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, rubidium carbonate, rubidium bicarbonate, rubidium acid carbonate, cesium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbamate and ammonium zirconyl carbonate.
- 8. The medium of claim 2 wherein the medium is substantially chromate and phosphate free.
- 9. The method of claim 6 comprising applying at least one topcoating upon the post-treated surface.
- 10. The medium of claim 2 wherein the medium comprises greater than 3 wt. % of at least one alkali silicate.
- 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a layer comprising silica upon the mineral.
- 12. The medium of claim 2 wherein said medium is substantially solvent free.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the silicate containing medium comprises at least one member from the group consisting of a fluid bath, gel or spray.
- 14. The method of claim 3 wherein the silicate containing medium further comprises at least one dopant.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the dopant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, chromium, titanium, zircon, vanadium, phosphorus, aluminum, iron, boron, bismuth, gallium, tellurium, germanium, antimony, niobium, magnesium, manganese, and their oxides and salts.
- 16. The method of claim 3 wherein the silicate containing medium further comprises a water dispersible polymer.
- 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the dopant comprises the anode of the electrolytic environment.
- 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a secondary coating comprising at least one member chosen from the group of silanes, epoxies, silicone, urethanes and acrylics.
- 19. The method of claim 7 wherein the carbonate source comprises ammonium zirconyl carbonate.
- 20. The method of claim 1 further comprising a post-treatment comprising contacting with at least one source of an acid.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This Application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/369,780, filed on Aug. 6, 1999 that is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 09/122,002, filed on Jul. 24, 1998 that is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 09/016,250, filed on Jan. 30, 1998 in the names of Robert L. Heimann et al. and entitled “An Electrolytic Process For Forming A Mineral”; the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The subject matter of this invention claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/036,024, filed on Jan. 31, 1997 and Ser. No. 60/045,446, filed on May 2, 1997 and entitled “Non-Equilibrium Enhanced Mineral Deposition”. The disclosure of the previously filed provisional patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60036024 |
Jan 1997 |
US |
|
60045446 |
May 1997 |
US |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09532982 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
09816879 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09369780 |
Aug 1999 |
US |
Child |
09532982 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Parent |
09122002 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Child |
09369780 |
Aug 1999 |
US |
Parent |
09016250 |
Jan 1998 |
US |
Child |
09122002 |
Jul 1998 |
US |