Platinum Metals Rev., 1981, 25, (3), 135
NEW PATENTS: July 1981
METALS AND ALLOYS
Jewellery Alloys
johnson matthey & co. ltd. British Patent 1,582,582
Pt alloys which may be cast by the lost-wax investment casting method contain a minimum of 95% Pt, 1.5−3.5% Ga and the balance Au or other specified metals. Around 0.1% Y may be added as a deoxidiser.
Corrosion Resistant Amorphous Platinum Metal Alloys
toyo soda manufacturing co. ltd. British Appl. 2,051,128 A
Amorphous alloys, especially useful as electrode materials in brine cells, are prepared by rapid quenching from the liquid state, and contain 10–40 at.%P and/or Si with 0.7 at.%B and/or C, 90–60 at.%Pd, Rh and/or Pt or one of these metals combined with up to 80 at.% Ir and Ru and optionally up to 25 at.% Ti, Zr, Nb or Ta.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
Electrochemical Cell
national research development corp. British Patent 1,585,070
Electrochemical cells for detecting the presence of an oxidisable or reducible component, such as O2 or H2, in a gas or a liquid suffer from background current flow which varies throughout the cell life. This is now overcome by using a Pt/Pt oxide counter electrode of surface area comparable to that of the working electrode, which may be formed from Pd, Ti, Zr, Y or Ni. The counter electrode used in the cell is preferably of Pd.
Hydrogen Production
asahi glass co. ltd. European Appl. 27,146
In a process for producing H2 by electrolysing an aqueous solution of a Group IA metal hydroxide, a fluorinated polymer cation exchange resin membrane is bonded on one side to a gas and liquid-permeable anode and on the other side to a gas and liquid-permeable cathode. The anode may be a platinum group metal or alloy or oxide thereof, graphite or Ni and the cathode of Fe, Ni, stainless steel or platinum group metal/C.
Hydrogen Generator
kernsforschungsonlage julich g.m.b.h. U.S. Patent 4,235,863
A membrane cell for water electrolysis has a hydride forming liquid metal in the cathode compartment, which can be heated to release H2. The preferred membrane material is Pd coated with Fe where it comes in to contact with the liquid metal.
ELECTRODEPOSITION AND SURFACE COATINGS
Palladium-Nickel Alloy Plating
international business machines corp. British Patent 1,583,696
A new bath which improves the rate of Ni deposition in the presence of Pd contains, per litre, 3–6 g Pd ion, as palladosammine chloride, about 12 g Ni ion, 10–50 g ammonium sulphamate, sulphate or chloride, 1–1000 ppm sulphite ion and 30−50 cm3 NH4OH to give a pH of 8.8 to 9.6 and to solubilise the Pd and Ni ions as ammonia complexes.
Platinum Group Metal Thermal Barriers
johnson matthey & co. ltd. British Appl. 2,041,246
Coatings on Ni, Co or Fe-based superalloys, refractory alloys or refractory metals consist of a protective layer of one or more platinum group metals and a refractory metal oxide such as Al, Zn, Ti and a thermal barrier of a stabilised refractory oxide, such as yttria stabilised zirconia.
Chemical Palladium Alloy Plating
mine safety appliances co. British Appl. 2,053,284 A
A complexed Pd-borane bath is used to deposit a layer containing 1−3% amorphous B, 1−3% crystalline Pd and the remainder intermetallic compounds of Pd and H. This layer bonds extremely strongly to electroless Ni.
Palladium Plating Bath
oxy metal industries corp. British Appl. 2,060,706 A
Bright, pure Pd deposits may be obtained even on Fe, Co and Ni substrates from a bath containing Pd, as an amine complex, a brightener selected from methylenebis (naphthalene Na sulphonate), Na benzene sulphonate, benzene sulphonamide and phenylsulphonic acid and an optical brightener which is an allylic sulphonate.
Rhodium Protection for Titanium
halcon research & development corp. U.S. Patent 4,238,551
The rate of corrosion of Ti by strong acid is inhibited by an electrodeposited surface layer of Rh. The whole surface area is protected even if only a small area of the surface is coated with Rh. Other platinum metals are not effective.
Ammonia-Free Palladium Plating Bath
siemens a.g. U.S. Patent 4,242,180
The addition of NH3 to Pd plating baths (for example to form ammine complexes) is undesirable because it constantly evaporates, causing environmental problems and difficulties with pH control. Now aminoacetic acid is added as a sole complexing agent to overcome these problems. The plating baths contain up to 150 g/l of aminoacetic acid, up to 50 g/l Pd as a diglycinate complex and optionally Ag, Ni and/or Co as alloying metals
LABORATORY APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUE
Flame Ionisation Detector
wti westenschappelijk technische instrumentatie British Patent 1,588,555
A flame ionisation detector for monitoring anaesthetic gases consists of a hairpin shaped capillary tube with a flame aperture at the bend. The flame is ignited by passing an electric current through a Pt wire monitoring electrode mounted in the capillary tube
Smoke Detector Ionisation Chamber
the radiochemical centre ltd. British Appl. 2,052,846 A
A thin coating of Rh is used to protect the Ni-63 source in a smoke detector ionisation chamber.
Oxygen Sensor for I.C.E. Exhausts
ford motor co. U.S. Patent 4,225,559
The loss of low temperature sensitivity of known TiO2-based O2 sensors exposed to exhaust gas streams is due to Pt loss caused by the vaporisation of PtO2. The loss may now be reduced by forming the electrodes from a Pt-Rh alloy, preferably Pt-10% Rh.
Nitrido-Bridged Staining Reagent
johnson matthey & co. ltd. U.S. Patent 4,235,868
Nitrido-bridged Os and Ru compounds are novel reagents for the detection of DNA and polysaccharides by electron spectroscopy.
Exhaust Gas Sensor
ford motor co. U.S. Patent 4,237,722
The susceptibility of Pt electrodes of a TiO2-based sensor to attack by C present in engine exhausts is reduced by increasing the amount of energy required to produce chemical reaction between the Pt and C. This may be achieved by annealing the electrodes or by alloying the Pt with Au or Rh.
Gas Detector
tokyo shibaura denki k.k. U.S. Patent 4,242,303
A gas detector having high sensitivity towards isobutane and low alcohol sensitivity has a detector element containing a n-type metal oxide semiconductor (for example ZnO or SnO2), up to 8% of Pt, Pd and/or Rh and P (in an amount 1.5 to 30 times the platinum metal content of the material).
Ozone Determination
JOINING
Thick Film Conductor Bonding
welwyn electric ltd. British Appl. 2,051,775 A
The mutual connection and bonding of thick film electrical conductors is carried out with conducting particles in a glass-ceramic matrix, for example Pd-Ag in a glass matrix.
Platinum Metal Coated Refractories
owens-corning fiberglas corp. U.S. Patent 4,240,847
Small particle alloys of Pt and Rh prepared by reducing complexes of the metals in aqueous solution are particularly effective for bonding platinum group metal sheets to refractory substrates. The alloys are deposited on to the refractory and heated.
HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS
Hydrogen and Oxygen Generation from Water
century mfg. co. British Patent 1,585,527
Steam dissociation is carried out in the presence of a magnetic catalyst which may be or contain Pd, amongst other catalytic metals, and an applied magnetic field. Application of the magnetic field allows dissociation to take place at a lower temperature.
Two Stage I.C.E. Exhaust Gas Treatment
caterpillar tractor co. British Patent 1,586,530
NH3 is mixed with an I.C.E. exhaust gas stream and passed over a catalyst, deposited on an inorganic support, at 200−800°C to reduce the NO content. The reaction is completed over an oxidation catalyst. Platinum group metal catalysts are preferred.
Storage and Transportation of Anaerobic Cultures
marcon laboratories inc. British Patent 1,586,570
An O2-free environment is provided by a closed bag containing a H2 generator, such as a tablet containing K borohydride, a catalyst, such as Pd on Au for promoting reaction between O2 and H2 and a colour indicator showing the presence or absence of O2.
Catalytic Coating for Piston Head of an I.C.E.
k. schmidt g.m.b.h. British Patent 1,589,011
The head of the piston of an I.C.E. is coated with a layer of porous Al2O3 impregnated with a Pt-Pd or Pt-Rh catalyst.
Exhaust Purification Catalyst
u.o.p. inc. British Appl. 2,055,303 A
I.C.E. catalysts, which are responsive to change between oxidising and reducing conditions and contain Pt-Rh or Pd-Rh, are promoted with up to 10% U. The catalysts are used in three-way converters.
Catalytic Decomposition of Ozone
johnson matthey & co. ltd. British Appl. 2,056,424 A
O3 is removed from gases by decomposition to O2 on a catalyst containing one or more of Pt, Pd, Ru, Ir, Os, Rh, Fe, Co, Ni, Ag, Mn, and Sn and/or alloys, mixtures and compounds containing one or more of these metals. Preferably the catalyst metal is deposited on a wash-coated metal alloy support.
Catalytic Combustion Engine
ricardo consulting engineers ltd. British Appl. 2,057,563 A
A reciprocating engine, without spark ignition, uses a catalyst in each combustion chamber to initiate and promote combustion. A preferred catalyst consists of a Pt gauze supported on a wide-grid carrier.
Hydrocarbon Reforming in a Bed of Magnetically Stabilised Fluidised Catalyst
exxon research & engineering co. European Appl. 21,854
Application of a magnetic field to a bed of, for example, Pt particles mixed with particles of a ferromagnetic material, greatly improves the gassolid contact and reduces the residence time.
Attenuated Superactive Platinum-Rhenium Catalytic Composite
u.o.p. inc. U.S. Patent 4,231,897
A catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion consists of pyrolysed Re carbonyl impregnated on to a porous carrier containing 0.01−2% of a platinum group metal, 0.01−5% Re, 0.01−5% Cd and 0.1−3.5% of a halogen component.
Multimetallic Reforming Catalyst
exxon research & engineering co. U.S. Patent 4,231,898
A catalyst is prepared by impregnating a carrier with a Cu-halogen acid solution, neutralising and then impregnating the neutralised support with a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component, which may be Pt, Pd and/or Ir with Re.
Intermetallic Catalysts for Ammonia Oxidation
johnson matthey & co. ltd. U.S. Patent 4,233,185
A catalyst for oxidation-reduction reactions is an intermetallic compound TiPt3, LnPd, LnPd3, Ln5Pd2, TaIr3, NbIr3, TaPd, TiRu, NbIr, TaRh3, NbRh3, VIr3 or CeRu2, where Ln is Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho or europium.
Exhaust Gas Purification Catalyst
ford motor co. U.S. Patent 4,233,188
An equilibrium three-way catalyst (which is active over all operating conditions of an I.C. engine and may be used with normal carburettor systems consists of 10−5000 ppm Ir, 500−50,000 ppm of an O2 storage material, (such as Re), 500−10,000 ppm Ni or W and 500−10,000 ppm Pd.
Nickel-Rich Platinum Group Metal-Base Metal Car Catalysts
johnson matthey & co. ltd. U.S. Patent 4,237,032
A catalyst, which as well as removing O2 from a gas containing excess O2 will also restore O2 to an O2 deficient gas, consists of a substrate, a washcoat of a refractory metal oxide and Ni and Ce and a precious metal catalytic coating of Pt, Rh, Ru, Pd, Ir, Os, Au and/or Ag. The washcoat preferably consists of the refractory metal oxide and a perovskite, such as La0.8Ba0.2Co0.987Rh0.013O3.
Hydroreforming Catalyst
institut francais du petrole U.S. Patent 4,239,652
A catalyst for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons under severe conditions contains 0.05−0.06% of a platinum group metal, 0.005−5% Sb, 0.01−4% of Ga, In and/or Tl and 1−10% of a halogen component supported on Al2O3. It is used in a moving bed reactor and has an improved life compared with conventional catalysts.
Preparation of Non-Pyrophoric Palladium Catalysts
chinoin gyogyszer U.S. Patent 4,239,653
Pd salts or complexes adsorbed on active C having homogeneous pore distribution, and which have been treated with an alkali and then reduced, give non-pyrophoric, highly active catalysts.
Spinel-Supported Platinum and Palladium Exhaust Purification Catalysts
k. k. toyota chuo kenkyusho U.S. Patent 4,239,656
A durable, high mechanical strength catalyst for use in I.C.E. exhaust gas purifiers contains Pt and/or Pd supported on an Al2O3-MgO2 spinel.
Methane Conversion Catalysts
exxon research & engineering co. U.S. Patent 4,239,658
Regenerable catalyst-reagents for conversion and oligomerisation of methane to ethylene- and benzene-rich fractions at low temperature contain a Group VIII or IB noble metal, notably Pt, Ir or Pd, a Group VIB metal oxide which is reducible to a lower oxide, notably Cr, Mo or W and a Group IIA metal, especially Mg or Sr, composited with a spinel-coated refractory support.
Palladium-Gold Getter Grids for Ammonia Oxidation Process
m. panstwawa & instytut nawozow sztueznych U.S. Patent 4,239,833
Getter grids for preventing platinum metal loss from nitric acid plants are woven from wires having different gauges. For pressureless processes the thickness difference is 30−400%, for medium pressure reactions 60−600% and for high pressure reactions 100−1000%. The design reduces pressure drop in the reaction caused by the use of getter grids.
Palladium/Silica Hydrogenation Catalyst for Hydrogen Peroxide Manufacture
e. i. du pont de nemours & co. U.S. Patent 4,240,933
An amorphous Pd/SiO2 catalyst contains small amounts of Zr, Th, Hf, Ce, Ti or Al hydroxides or oxides. Preparation conditions are adjusted so that the additive metal compound deposits from the solution before the Pd compound and serves as a base for the subsequently reduced Pd metal.
Water Addition to I.C.E. Fuels
frnst rawyler-ehrat U.S. Patent 4,242,076
Less fuel is required to operate a diesel or Otto engine if H2O vapour is added to the fuel supply and if a H2O dissociation catalyst is included in the combustion chamber. A Pt sponge catalyst may be used.
Hydrogenolysis of Norbornadiene Dimer
sun oil co. of pennsylvania U.S. Patent 4,242,529
Hydrogenolysis of a saturated endo-endo dehydronorbornadiene hexacyclic dimer is carried out in the presence of a Group VIII metal catalyst (Pd, Ni, Rh or Pt). The resulting pentacyclic isomers are used to depress the freezing point of the saturated hexacyclic dimer which is used as a high density missile fuel.
HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS
Rhodium Carbonylation Catalysts
air products & chemicals inc. British Patent 1,584,740
A Rh complex catalyst having phosphorus or arsenic ligands, typically di[bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]Rh chloride, has low volatility when used in carbonylation reactions for the preparation of carboxylic acids and esters, resulting in low catalyst loss and hence longer catalyst life.
Production of an Alcohol and Carboxylic Acid
johnson matthey & co. ltd., bp chemicals ltd. and the university of sheffield British Appl. 2,054,592 A
A mixture of an alcohol and a compound containing a carboxylic group, especially ethanol and acetic acid, is produced from an aldehyde in the presence of a platinum group metal catalyst, such as [Rh2(C5Me5)2(OH)3]Cl.4H2O.
Hydroformylation of Olefins
kuraray co. ltd. British Appl. 2,056,874 A
Certain trisubstituted diphosphino compounds, such as trans-1,2-bis(diphenyl-phosphinomethyl)-cyclopropane, considerably prolong the active life of Rh catalysts, such as HRh(CO)(PPh3)3 used in the hydroformylation of olefinic compounds.
Aminoalkylpsoralen Photosensitisers
thomas c. elder inc. British Appl. 2,058,073 A
Psoralen dermal sensitising agents for use in photochemotherapy may be produced by the oxidation of coumarin derivatives with OsO4.
Palladium Complex Catalysts
u.k. secretary of state for defence British Appl. 2,058,074 A
New catalysts for olefin hydrogenation, silane alcoholysis and other reactions have the formula [ZPdLL′]2X2 where Z is an alkylene or phenylene disphosphine, diarsine, distibine or diamine, L and L′ are weakly co-ordinated solvent molecules and X is an anion, such as a Pd perchlorate-bis(diphenyl phosphino)ethane-solvent complex.
Rhodium Catalysts
union carbide corp. European Appl. 28,378
The stability of Rh-carbonyl-tertiary phosphine catalysts for olefin hydroformylation is improved if the phosphine ligand is RPPh2 or R2PPh and R is a branched or cyclic alkyl group.
Ruthenium and Rhodium Hydride Homogenous Hydrogenation Catalysts
allied chemical corp. U.S. Patent 4,232,170
Anionic Ru and Rh hydride catalyst containing P, arsenic and antimony aryl and alkyl ligands, typically K tris(triphenylphosphine)Ru hydride, are active for the homogeneous hydrogenation of primary carboxylic acid esters to primary alcohols. The original filing covered Group VIII metal catalysts but the claims have been limited to specific Ru and Rh catalysts.
Palladium Catalyst for Propylene Oxidation
FUEL CELLS
Fuel Cell Electrode
texas instruments inc. U.S. Patent 4,229,490
Fuel cell electrodes are prepared by impregnating a thin carbonised paper-like substrate with an electrolyte-repelling material and then screen-printing Pt black electrodes on to the repellent layer.
Fuel Cell Oxygen Electrode
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
Glass-Halogen Incandescent Lamps
general electric co. British Patent 1,583,660
A new design of all-glass lamp uses wedge pins made of Pt-plated Mo.
Optical Fibres
plessey co. ltd. British Patent 1,585,899
Optical fibres are usually coated with a protective plastic layer which is not suitable for use in hostile, high temperature (400°C) environments. Fibres suitable for use at these temperatures are first coated with a Pt or Au resinate solution and are then plated, for example with Pt, Au or Cu, to increase the coating thickness.
Optical Video Disc
r.c.a. corp. British Appl. 2,060,973 A
The material used and the thickness of the reflective, transmissive and absorptive layers of an optical recording material are chosen to obtain high sensitivity for widely differing, more than 100 nm, wavelengths. The reflective layer may be Au or Al and the absorptive layer of Rh.
Photoelectric Cell
thomson-c.s.f. European Appl. 24,378
A solar cell consisting of a metal substrate coated with doped Si post-treated with a H plasma is further coated with a very thin (transparent) layer of a metal, preferably Pt.
I.C. Engine
ricardo consulting engineers ltd. European Appl. 25,298
A reciprocating piston I.C.E. which has a low compression ratio, for example 11–15:1, and can operate on petrol, methanol or diesel fuel includes a swirl-promoting pre-combustion chamber and a catalytic screen of Pt gauze.
Relay Contacts
siemens a.g. European Appl. 27,205
Relay contacts having excellent properties are sintered products containing 80−100% Ni and 0−20% Pd.
Display Device
international business machines corp. European Appl. 27,855
An electrochromic display device includes a film of a polymer, such as polypyrrole, deposited on a display electrode which is preferably of Pt.
Polycrystalline Diamond Body
general electric co. U.S. Patent 4,231,195
A bonded diamond body, for use in abrasive tools, consists of diamond crystals bonded together by a mass of eutectic Si-rich alloy, (the Si may be alloyed with Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Y and/or other transition metals) which also contain hexagonal nitride. The B nitride may be added in a shielding metal cup of Y.
Amorphous Magnetic Thin Films for Magnetic Bubble Domains
international business machines corp. U.S. Patent 4,236,946
A sputtered amorphous film having a highly stable easy axis of magnetisation consists of Fe, B and up to 10% of a transition metal, which may be Pt, Pd or Y.
Thermoplastic Electrode Ink
ferro corp. U.S. Patent 4,243,710
An ink consisting of a mixture of metal powders in a thermoplastic vehicle can be screened on to a dielectric substrate and immediately laminated without a drying step. The ink, especially useful for the manufacture of multi-layer ceramic capacitors, contains 40% of metal powder consisting of 20 parts Pt, 20 parts Pd and 60 parts Au, and 60% of a vehicle consisting of 68 parts cetyl alcohol, 18 parts spermaceti wax and 14 parts methacrylate resin.
Dispersion Imaging Material
asahi kasei kogyo k.k. U.S. Patent 4,243,746
Dry imaging material for microfilm applications consists of a sub-layer containing at least 70% Pd, Au and/or Ge of thickness 5−200 Å, a main imaging layer containing Sn and optionally an outer protective polymer layer. The sublayer modifies the layer structure of the Sn-based imaging layer giving good sensitivity and excellent gradation.
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Thermocouples for Metallurgical Furnaces
sidbec-dosco British Patent 1,586,015
A self-heating thermocouple for monitoring the hot face of a refractory lining of a metallurgical furnace consists of Pt:Pt-Rh thermocouples embedded in an outer sheath of insulating refractory metal oxide and an inner sheath of a powdered oxide material such as Ni-ferrite, which becomes conductive at high temperature.
Thin Film Resistance Themometer Probe
leeds & northrup co. U.S. Patent 4,242,659
The header portion of the probe is formed from a sandwich of three buttons (brazed together with a Au-Cu brazing alloy) enabling the header to withstand shock and vibration in use. A resistance thermometer detector chip is brazed (with a Cu-Au or Pt-Au-Ag brazing alloy) to the header and Pt ribbon straps are resistance welded between a contact pad on the chip and thick film metallisation on the header.
MEDICAL USES
Palladium in Cardiac Pacers
cordiscorp. British Patent 1,583,610
Where the cardiac pacer contains an electrochemical cell which generates hydrogen, Pd is introduced into the cell to act as a getter. Pd is present as a solid body which is oxidised on its surface and hermetically sealed into the casing using this oxide film.