Apparatus and method for inhibiting the leaching of lead in water
AssigneeTechnology Management Advisors LLC
InventorsEnzo L. Coltrinari, Jerome P. Downey, Wayne C. Hazen, Paul B. Queneau
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Abstract
A copper alloy plumbing fixture containing interdispersed lead particles coated noncontinuously on a water contact surface to resist the leaching of lead into potable water systems. The leach resistant fixture is prepared by immersing conventional copper alloys in a bismuth nitrate solution, selectively and noncontinuously coating the lead dispersoid particles on the water contact surface with bismuth. Tin may be substituted for bismuth to obtain similar results.
Claims12
A method for preparing a surface of a copper-containing article, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an article comprising a solid continuous phase comprising copper and a solid noncontinuous phase of dispersoids comprising lead dispersed in said continuous phase, said article having an exposed surface, said continuous phase and a plurality of said dispersoids forming at least a part of said exposed surface;
- and
- reacting at least a portion of said lead in said plurality of dispersoids with a noncontinuous coating phase.
A method for treating a plumbing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- first providing an apparatus, said apparatus shaped so as to structurally define a fluid conduit volume for directing the flow of fluids through said apparatus, said apparatus comprising a continuous matrix phase having greater than about 50 weight percent copper and a dispersed phase comprising lead;
- said article having a fluid contact surface adjacent said fluid conduit volume;
- contacting said fluid contact surface with a treating material comprising metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tin and combinations thereof;
- and
- second providing a coating comprising coating material across at least a portion of said fluid contact surface, said coating material selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tin and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.