Cathode surface treatment for electroforming metallic foil or strip

A process for forming electrodeposited metal foil having substantially isotropic tensile elongation properties comprising:

• providing a cell with an electrolyte containing a concentration of metal ions and a first electrode at least partially immersed in said electrolyte;
• providing a second electrode having a plating surface;
• polishing said plating surface in a generally random fashion to provide a surface roughness in a longitudinal direction which is within about 20% of the surface roughness in a transverse direction;
• arranging said second electrode in said electrolyte so as to form an interelectrode gap with said first electrode;
• moving said plating surface relative to said first electrode;
• flowing an electrolyte at a desired flow rate into said interelectrode gap;
• and
• applying a current between said electrodes to form said foil having said substantially isotropic tensile elongation properties.

An apparatus for forming electrodeposited foil having substantially isotropic mechanical properties comprising:

• a tank for holding an electrolyte containing a concentration of metal ions;
• a first electrode mounted in said tank so as to be at least partially immersed in said electrolyte;
• a second electrode mounted in said tank so as to form an interelectrode gap with said first electrode;
• said second electrode having a plating surface with a substantially isotropic surface finish;
• means for flowing said electrolyte through said interelectrode gap at a desired flow rate;
• and
• means for applying a current across said electrodes so as to form said foil having said substantially isotropic tensile elongation properties on said plating surface.