Dynamic precious metal assay method
AssigneeTri Electronics Company, Inc.
InventorsBoris Medvinsky, Leonid Radomyshelsky
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Abstract
The invention describes a method for determining the assay of gold alloy. It utilizes a dynamic electrochemical process. The specimen gold is wetted by a described electrolyte, and a small current anodizes the surface of the specimen for a metered period of time. A potential sensing device is then applied to the charged surface, and a potential decay is observed. The potential decay information is compared with empirical data and by interpolating said potential decay with the empirical data a determination of the karat quality of the gold alloy may be determined. This same method may be used for other precious metals, employing different electrolytes, empirical standards, and potentiometers.
Claims5
A dynamic precious metal assay method which comprises the steps of:
- Introducing an electrolyte onto a sample of precious metal,
- creating a wet junction,
- driving an electric current through said electrolyte,
- anodizing said precious metal,
- terminating said electric current,
- monitoring a potential decay with respect to time of said precious metal sample at said wet junction,
- comparing said potential decay with an empirical table of standards,
- interpolating said potential decay by differentiating against said empirical table of standards, and
- enunciating said interpolation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.