Method and apparatus for electroplating

Abstract

A process for the continuous application of metallic layers on a body comprising providing an electrically conductive body having a surface with an outer surface area; providing a plating apparatus comprising a cylindrical, hollow anode having an internal volume and an inner surface area, an electrolyte having metal ions dissolved therein, a cathode; imparting a charge on said body using said cathode, generating an electrical field by applying an electrical current to said anode, feeding said electrolyte into said internal volume of said anode, feeding said body through said anode, such that said body contacts said electrolyte, whereby said ions plate onto said body, forming a metallic layer on the surface of said body, and withdrawing said body from the anode; wherein a ratio of said anode inner surface area to said body outer surface area is in the range between 2.6:1 to 26:1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for the continuous application of metallic layers on a body comprising
 providing an electrically conductive body having a surface with an outer surface area;   providing a plating apparatus comprising
 a cylindrical, hollow anode having an internal volume and an inner surface area, 
 an electrolyte having metal ions dissolved therein, 
 a cathode; 
   imparting a charge on said body using said cathode,   generating an electrical field by applying an electrical current to said anode,   feeding said electrolyte into said internal volume of said anode,   feeding said body through said anode, such that said body contacts said electrolyte, whereby said ions plate onto said body, forming a metallic layer on the surface of said body, and   withdrawing said body from the anode;   wherein a ratio of said anode inner surface area to said body outer surface area is in the range between 2.6:1 to 26:1.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said electrolyte has a flow direction and said body has a feed direction, wherein said flow direction and said feed direction move in opposite directions relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said anode comprises hollow cylindrical titanium body having an iridium oxide coating thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said anode is stationary. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said body comprises a metallic material. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said body comprises a hollow copper tube. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said cathode comprises at least a pair of electrically conductive wheels that contact said body and move said body through said anode. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said metal ions are selected from the group consisting of zinc, nickel, cobalt, copper, silver, gold, tin, cadmium, lead, and iron. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said body is fed through said anode as a rate of about 5 meters per minute to about 1000 meters per minute. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said body is fed through said anode as a rate of about 30 meters per minute to about 60 meters per minute. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said metallic layer is at least 25 μm thick. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the electrical current applied to the anode imparts a current density between about 10 to about 400 A/dm 2  on the surface of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the voltage of the process is between about 0.1 to about 20 volts. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the voltage of the process is between about 13 to about 18 volts. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said electrolyte is zinc sulfate. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the electrolyte contains no organic polymers.