NEW ELECTR-PLAITING PROCESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1921, Page 4

NEW ELECTR-PLAITING PROCESS.

SHEFFIELD MAN’S DISCOVERY

The discovery of a new process in electro-plating, which experts in the industry claim will increase output by 100 per cent os well as save thousands of pounds on plant find equipment, was announced by Mr Frank Mason at a conjoint meeting of the Faraday Society and the Institute of Metals, held at the Sheffield University. All the experiments have been carried out in. the Electro-metallurgical Laboratory at Sheffield University, but, further to establish the commercial value of the process, it has been successfully worked on a limited scale in woikshop practice, and lias given an increase of 100 per cent in productivity from the plating baths., There is evidence that further exploration will give much more startling results.

The discovery has relation to the fact that the rapidity at which the deposition of the silver onSny article that is being electro-plated depends on the strength and quantity of the electricity put into tlie chemical plating bath to secure tliatresult, says the. “Manchester “Guardian.” Tn present practice, if the electric current is increased beyond a given standard the “plate’’ is spoilt (“burnt”), although the plating is more rapid. But Mr Mason lias discovered that by varying the chemical composition of the plating bath (the electrolyte, as it is called) it is possible not only to more than double the current of electricity put into the bath, and thereby make it do the work twice as quickly than in the present practice of the trade, but get a “plate” of the finest and the best. In other words, lie lias discovered how quick/plating can be (lone, without “burning.” Mr Mason is a native of Sheffield, and is well known as a lecturer in electro-plating and elect rpl-cheinistry at the University of Sheffield, a* "ell as a practical works manager. For five years during the war lie conducted many researches on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions ,ar.d it was while engaged on these tbat.be nuule.Jtis discovery.