Copper cathode starting sheets
AssigneeASARCO Incorporated
InventorsMelvin G. DeBord, Harry E. Tallert, Michael D. Owsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wrought copper cathode starting sheets for use in the electrolytic production of copper made preferably by a continuous casting and rolling process are provided. Refined copper is melted in a shaft furnace and continuously cast preferably using a twin belt horizontal caster and straight line rolled to reduce the thickness of the casting by about 25% to 98% to produce a sheet having a thickness up to about 0.123 inch. The continuous sheet is cut after the rolling process from uncoiled sheet into discrete rectangular shapes suitable for use as a starting sheet, as a starting sheet blank or other metal sheet uses such as cladding and roofing.
Claims18
A wrought copper cathode starting sheet for use in the electrorefining of copper by the electrodeposition of copper onto the starting sheet, the starting sheet made by the process comprising the steps:
- melting refined copper;
- continuously casting the molten copper into a cast form for rolling into a sheet;
- reducing the thickness of the continuous casting from about 25% to 98% by mechanically working the cast copper into a wrought sheet;
- trimming the continuous wrought sheet into discrete rectangular sheets for use as a starting sheet or as a starting blank for the electrolytic deposition of copper thereon;
- and
- forming support means on the sheet for hanging the sheet vertically in an electrorefining cell.
As an article of manufacture a wrought copper cathode starting sheet comprising a discrete wrought copper sheet having a thickness of about 0.015 to 0.123 inch and support means thereon for hanging the sheet vertically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.