Electromodification of Conductive Surfaces
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorErin K. Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for electromodification of a conductive surface of a part may comprise a stencil having a mask pattern, a retainer joined to the stencil and configured to capture an electrolyte, and a sacrificial metal joined to the stencil and the retainer for form an integrated assembly. The stencil may be positioned in the assembly to contact the conductive surface of the part, and establish electrical contact between the electrolyte and the conductive surface through the mask pattern when electrical power with a predetermined polarity is applied between the sacrificial metal and the conductive surface.
Claims20
An apparatus for electromodification of a conductive surface of a part, comprising:
- a stencil having a mask pattern;
- a retainer configured to capture an electrolyte, the retainer being joined to the stencil;
- and
- a sacrificial metal joined to the stencil and the retainer to form an integrated assembly, the stencil being positioned in the assembly to (a) contact the conductive surface of the part, and (b) establish electrical contact through the mask pattern between the electrolyte and the conductive surface when electrical power with a predetermined polarity is applied between the sacrificial metal and the conductive surface.
A method for electromodification of a conductive surface of a part, comprising:
- providing an electromodification apparatus including a stencil having a mask pattern, a retainer supporting an electrolyte, a sacrificial metal, and a frame holding the stencil, the retainer, and the sacrificial metal together as an integrated assembly;
- placing the stencil of the apparatus in contact with the conductive surface;
- applying electrical power with a predetermined polarity between the sacrificial metal and the conductive surface, the stencil establishing electrical contact between the electrolyte and the conductive surface through the mask pattern;
- and
- allowing electromodification of the conductive surface by one of electroetching the conductive surface, and electrodeposition of metal on the conductive surface.
A bathless electromodification system for electromodification of a conductive surface, comprising:
- a part having the conductive surface;
- an electromodification apparatus including
- a stencil having a mask pattern, the stencil being in contact with the conductive surface of the part,
- a retainer capturing an electrolyte,
- a sacrificial metal, and
- a non-conductive frame holding the stencil, the retainer, and the sacrificial metal together as an integrated assembly;
- and
- a power supply to apply electrical power with a predetermined polarity between the sacrificial metal and the conductive surface to allow electromodification of the conductive surface, the stencil establishing electrical contact between the electrolyte and the conductive surface through the mask pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.