NEW PATENTS: July 1971
Journal Archive
NEW PATENTS: July 1971
METALS AND ALLOYS
Dispersion Hardening of Metals
johnson matthey & co. ltd U.S. Patent 3,547,712
The mechanical properties of dispersion hardened noble metals or copper are improved by cold working and annealing. The extent of cold working is such that recrystallisation during annealing gives an elongated grain structure highly oriented in the direction of working. Typically the method is applied to Pt or Pt-Rh alloys containing dispersed TiC.
Platinum-Rhodium-Gold Alloys
johnson matthey & co. ltd Dutch Appl. 70.08,179
Alloys able to withstand attack by molten glass contain 9−25% Rh, 1–4 wt.% Au and the remainder Pt.
Alloys Containing Pt Group Metals
johnson matthey & co. ltd Italian Patent 842,682
A method of making alloys of one or more Pt metals with up to 20 at.% Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, or a rare earth metal is described. The Pt metal is melted in a crucible in an Ar atmosphere; the crucible is evacuated when the base metal is added. Rh-Pt-Zr alloys are particularly mentioned.
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
Electrolytic Cell
admiralty materials laboratory British Patent 1,218,038
In a brine electrolysis cell, one electrode is made of Pt, Pd, Pd-Ag alloy or graphite, and the other of microporous Ag sheets, Cu or Hg.
Electrochemical Cell
leesona corp. U.S. Patent 3,553,022
A lightweight electrode has a hydrophobic polymer core with an additive, e.g. graphite, to make it conductive. One face of the core is coated with a mixture of catalyst and polymer, e.g. Pt black and ptfe. U.S. Patent 3,553,024 describes a similar cell electrode.
ELECTRODEPOSITION AND SURFACE COATINGS
Electrodeposition of Rhodium
sel-rex corp. British Patent 1,223,186
A bright Rh deposit is obtained by the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a Rh salt, sulphamic acid, and sufficient of a Cu salt to provide a Cu:Rh ratio between 0.05% and 5.00%.
Metallisation of Titanate Wafers
r.c.a. corp. British Patent 1,227,518
A conductive coating is formed on the surface of a titanate ceramic sheet by applying a metallising composition. This contains finely divided Pt or Pd (and optionally Ag and/or Au) and a compound which decomposes on heating to give Au, Ag or Hg. Further heating sinters metal to ceramic.
A Platinum-coated Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloy Article
owens illinois inc. U.S. Patent 3,542,583
In a process for coating the surface of a Ni-Cr-Fe alloy with Pt, the surface of the alloy is first cleaned to remove all oxides and foreign material and then heated to a temperature of about 500°F. Molten Pt is then sprayed on to the surface at a sufficiently high velocity to rupture any oxides formed on the surface of the base alloy and metallurgically to bond the Pt to the alloy. In this way a strong bond between the alloy and Pt is achieved.
Electrodeposition of Palladium
h. c. angus, et al. U.S. Patent 3,544,435
Pd is electrodeposited in a single cell using a bath consisting of an aqueous ammoniacal solution of tetramminopalladous bromide having a pH of 9–10. Ductile coatings suitable for electrical contacts are produced.
Electrodeposition of Thick Coatings of Palladium
u.s. secretary of the interior U.S. Patent 3,547,789
Thick adherent coatings of Pt, Pd or alloys of Pt and Pd with other Pt metals are obtained by passing current through a molten cyanide or cyanide-cyanate bath exposed to O2 at 350−600°C. The current is passed from Pt or Pd electrodes to the article to be plated.
HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS
Platinum Catalyst
w. r. grace & co. British Patent 1,218,334
HCN is produced by the reaction of NH3 with a saturated hydrocarbon (e.g. CH4) in the presence of 0.01−2.0 wt.% of Pt on a refractory mullite base.
Ammonia-dissociation Catalyst
general electric co. British Patent 1,224,565
A catalyst for the dissociation of NH3 consists of Ir or an alloy of Ir with e.g. Pt, Ti, Ta, Fe or Ni.
Reforming Catalyst
chevron research co. British Patent 1,226,071
A catalyst for the low-pressure reforming of hydrocarbons consists of a porous inorganic oxide carrier with 0.01 to 3 wt.% of Pt, 0.01 to 5 wt.% of Re and 0.1 to 3 wt.% of a halogen.
Hydrogenation Catalyst
british petroleum co. ltd British Patents 1,226,131 and 1,226,132
A catalyst particularly useful for the production of fuel oils from waxy residues consists of a mordenite partly ion-exchanged with a Pt group metal. Pt or Pd are preferred.
Reforming Catalyst
universal oil products co. British Patent 1,226,807
Supported Pt is used in one of the stages of production of aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum fractions.
Catalytic Dewaxing
chevron research co. U.S. Patent 3,539,495
A waxy hydrocarbon oil feed is catalytically dewaxed in the presence of H2 using a catalyst of 0.01−3% Pt and 0.01−5% Re on a porous solid carrier.
Oxidation of Ferrous Compounds and Reduction of Ferric Compounds
johnson matthey & co. ltd U.S. Patent 3,542,508
A continuous method of oxidising ferrous compounds to ferric compounds and of reducing ferric compounds to ferrous compounds by the use of a supported Pt group metal catalyst in a trickle column is described. These reactions offer a route to the recovery of Fe contained in, for example, H2SO4 and HCl solutions.
Hydrocarbon Conversion Catalyst
universal oil products co. U.S. Patent 3,544,451
Hydrocarbons are converted in contact with a catalyst consisting of Pt and Re on a support. The support contains Al2O3 and finely divided mordenite and is made by mixing the components in an aqueous medium in the presence of a source of halogen.
Hydrocarbon Conversion Catalyst
texaco inc. U.S. Patent 3,551,516
The isomerisation of paraffinic hydrocarbons is catalysed by a composite of Pt and Al2O3 activated by CCl4, CHCl3, methylene chloride, phosgene or trichloroacetyl chloride.
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Production
asahi kasei k.k.k. U.S. Patent 3,554,901
Aromatic compounds are produced by contacting a mixture of H2 and hydrocarbons with a supported mixture of 0.1−1.0% Pt, 0.1−1.0% Pd and 5−25% Cr2O3.
Naphtha Reforming
chevron research co. U.S. Patent 3,554,902
Naphtha is reformed over a supported catalytic mixture containing 0.01−3% Pt and 0.001−1% Ir in the presence of less than 15 ppm S.
Hydrocarbon Conversion Catalyst
texaco inc. U.S. Patent 3,555,107
A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst consists of Ru, Rh, Pt or Pd deposited on an Al2O3 which has been activated with an organic chloride.
Alcohol and Aldehyde Production
ethyl corp. U.S. Patent 3,557,219
Alcohols and/or aldehydes are obtained by the carbonylation of olefins in the presence of metallic Rh.
Hydrocracking Catalyst
chevron research co. U.S. Patent 3,558,472
A hydrocracking catalyst consists of a crystalline zeolitic molecular sieve cracking component, 0.01−2.0% Pt, Pd or Ir or their compounds and 0.01−2.0% of Re or its compounds. See also U.S. Parents 3,558,475, 3,558,477 and 3,558,479.
Hydroreforming Catalysts
cie francaise de raffinage French Patent 2,031,984
New catalysts consist of a support, such as Al2O3 or a zeolite, of specific surface 15 m2/g or more and pore volume greater than 0.1 cm3/g carrying 0.02−2% Pt metal and 0.02−2% Pb, Ge and/or Sn.
Olefin Production
deutsche erdol a.g. German Appl. 1,922,642
Normal olefins are produced from n-paraffins by contact at high temperature with a supported mixture of Pt and Cd.
Removal of Oxides of Nitrogen from Waste Gases
johnson matthey & co. ltd Dutch Appl. 70.13,586
Waste gases produced in the manufacture of HNO3 are combined with a gaseous reducing fuel and passed over a supported mixture or alloy containing 50−80% Pt and 50−20% Rh in order to remove oxides of NH3. A preferred reducing fuel is CH4. With 35% Rh-Pt, ignition temperatures as low as 315°C are attainable.
Removal of Organic Pollutants from Waste Gases
johnson matthey & co. ltd Dutch Appl. 70.13,587
Organic compounds (including CO and hydrocarbons) which are present in waste gases and which otherwise cause atmospheric contamination are oxidised to CO2 and H2O by passage, together with O2, over a supported mixture or alloy containing 50−80% (by weight) Pt and 50−20% Rh. Significantly improved results with a wide range of organic contaminants and with internal combustion engine exhausts are claimed.
HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS
Hydrogenation Catalyst
imperial chemical industries ltd British Patent 1,222,216
Aldehydes or ketones are converted to alcohols by H2 in the presence of a carboxylic acid and a mixed-ligand complex of Ir. The ligands may be PPh3 or AsPh3.
Hydroformylation Catalyst
monsanto co. British Patent 1,223,201
A catalyst medium for hydroformylation is a solution of a coordination complex of Rh, in which at least one of the ligands is halogen and one a tertiary amine, phosphine, arsine or stibine (MR3). A stoichiometric excess of at least 2 moles of MR3 is present per mole of Rh complex. A heterogeneous vapour phase system is also described.
Organosiloxane Compositions
general electric co. U.S. Patent 3,539,530
An organopolysiloxane having terminal organosiloxy units is reacted with a silicon hydride in the presence of a Pt catalyst, e.g. H2PtCl6.
Silane Addition Reactions
imperial chemical industries ltd U.S. Patent 3,546,266
Organic Si compounds are produced by olefin addition to a Si-H bond in the presence of a Rh catalyst of formula RhX(RR′R″Y)3, where X is an anion and the R’s are organic groups. Y is As, Sb or P.
Oxalic Acid Production
american cyanamid co. U.S. Patent 3,555,084
Oxalic acid is produced when acetylene is oxidised with an alkali metal ferricyanide and OsO4 or an alkali metal osmiate.
Unsaturated Compound Reactions
g. wilkinson French Patent 1,601,798
Unsaturated compounds are hydrogenated, hydroformylated or carbonylated to give aldehydes or ketones in the presence of a Pt metal halide or pseudohalide complexed with a PPh3 where one phenyl group has electron-donating substituents. In one example RhCl3 is complexed with tri-(paramethylphenyl) phosphine. A phosphine:Rh ratio of 2:1 is preferred.
Dehydration of Alcohols
ste usines chimiques rhone-poulenc French Patent 2,029,290
Alcohols which do not have any unsaturation on the α-C atom are dehydrated to ethers and/or olefins over Group VIII noble metal catalysts, especially Ru, Rh or Os acetylacetonates or other complexes.
Ruthenium Carboxylates
johnson matthey & co. ltd Dutch Appl. 70.10,315
A new composition of matter is a Ru carboxylate of formula Ru2(OCOR)4, where R is an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group. It is produced by heating together a soluble Ru salt, a soluble carboxylate and the corresponding carboxylic acid, e.g. acetic acid. The compounds may be stabilised by complexing them with pyridine or a phosphine. Protonation with strong acids produces species showing high activity for the catalysis of hydrogenation and other reactions.
Transition Metal Carboxylate Catalysts
johnson matthey & co. ltd Dutch Appl. 70.10,375
Transition metal compounds useful for catalysis are obtained by complexing a Pt group metal or other transition metal carboxylate, thiocarboxylate or dithiocarboxylate with a stabilising ligand. In one example a Rh benzoate catalyst is stabilised by a phosphine. Protonation of these compounds with strong acids produces species of the type 
(where M is the transition metal used) showing a high activity for the catalysis of hydrogenation and other reactions. Preferred Pt group metals are Rh and Ru.
Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Olefins
johnson matthey & co. ltd Italian Patent 851,328
A (PPh3)3ClRh complex which has a CH3 or methoxy group in the p position of the Ph groups is used as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefins such as cyclohexene, hex-1-ene, cis- or trans -4-methylpent-2-ene.
Improved Hydroformylation Catalysts
johnson matthey & co. ltd Italian Patent 859,655
Catalysts such as RhH(CO)(MR3)3 where M is P, As or Sb, and R is aryl, alkyl or aralkyl radicals are used for the hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds. The reaction is carried out in an aldehyde or alcohol solvent in the presence of a base.
FUEL CELLS AND BATTERIES
High-capacity Metal/Air Battery
leesona corp. British Patent 1,221,196
In a high capacity metal/air battery, one face of the cathode member is coated with a catalyst which is a uniform mixture of Pt and p.t.f.e. particles.
Fuel Cell Electrode
general electric co. British Patent 1,221,981
A fuel cell electrode consists of a mixture of a noble metal (i.e. Rh, Ru, Pd, Os, Ir or Pt or mixtures or alloys thereof) with a W bronze.
Fuel Cell
general electric co. British Patent 1,224,932
Fuel for a fuel cell is provided by gases from the dissociation of NH3 on an Ir or Ir alloy catalyst.
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
Sheathed Metals
johnson matthey & co. ltd British Patent 1,222,434
In the sheathing of a base metal such as Mo or W with a Pt group metal, migration of the base metal to the sheathing metal is reduced by evacuating the intervening space and introducing an inert gas such as Ar, N2 or He. The invention also includes the use of a barrier layer of refractory oxide, nitride or carbide which prevents physical contact between the core and the sheath.
GLASS TECHNOLOGY
Containers for Molten Glass
pilkington bros. ltd British Patent 1,222,248
A container for molten glass has its inner glass-contacting surfaces made of Ir or an alloy containing at least 50% Ir and its outer surfaces coated with Rh.
Spinneret for Glass Fibres
pilkington bros. ltd French Appl. 2,029,484
A spinneret for glass fibres is made in two parts. The body is made from an alloy of 5−40% Rh, 0−20% Ir and the remainder Pt, the total content of Rh and Ir being not more than 40%. The working faces across which the fibres are drawn are made from an alloy of up to 60% Pt, 0−25% Rh, 0−20% Ir, 2−10% Au, 0−5% Cu and 0−10% Pd, the total content of Rh and Ir being not more than 25%.
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
Composite Electrode
k.d.i. chloro guard corp. U.S. Patent 3,547,600
A three component electrode having enhanced resistance to high voltage damage is described. It may particularly be used for chlorinating and hypochlorinating. It consists of a Ti or Nb body, an intermediate layer of 0.0003–0.01 inch Ta or Nb and an outer layer of 0.003–0.005 inch of Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru or their alloys.
Resistive Film
bourns inc. U.S. Patent 3,551,355
A resistive film for a potentiometer consists of a glass frit and 1−7% of Ru conductive particles.
Resistor Oxide Compositions
e. i. du pont de nemours & co. U.S. Patent 3,553,109
New resistors have the composition (MxBi2−x) 
, where M is Y, Tl, In, Cd, Pb or a lanthanide, M′ is Pt, Ti, Sn, Cr, Rh, Ir, Re, Zr, Sb or Ge, x is 0–2, y is 0–2 and z is 0–1. This mixed oxide is combined with an inorganic binder, a noble metal and a binary oxide. A typical resistor contains 22−76% Bi2Ru2O7, 15−64% binder, 3−30% Au and 0.5−5% CoO.
Indirectly Heated Cathode
u.s. philips corp. U.S. Patent 3,553,521
An indirectly heated cathode has a refractory metal support, such as Mo or W, coated with a Pt metal to minimise oxidation. Rh, Ir and Ru are the preferred metals.
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Temperature Sensitive Bridge Circuits
n. r. davis British Patent 1,222,379
A bridge circuit incorporates a temperature sensor element, e.g. a Pt resistance element.
High Stability Sheathed Thermocouple
johnson matthey & co. ltd German Appl. 2,022,322
A noble metal thermocouple is insulated by MgO2 or BeO2, has air or any other oxidising medium removed and is protected by an inert gas. The sheath contains a “getter” such as Ti, Zr or Ta which maintains oxidising potential at a low level. It may also contain a small percentage of the more volatile components of the noble metal limbs.
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