SELECTIVELY TREATING AN ARTICLE

• Main Authors: HRIVNAK, BONNIE J, BACON, DUANE E, GATTERMEIR, J. DAVID
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 28.06.1983
• Edition: 3
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMISTRY; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; LINE CONNECTORS; METALLURGY; PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC REMOVAL OF MATERIALS FROMOBJECTS

The present invention relates to a method of selectively treating an article to smooth an edge of the article in an electrolytic bath wherein surfaces of the article, upon being exposed to a wetting treating fluid, are acted upon by the fluid. The method is comprised of contacting the edge surface of the article to the surface of the wetting treating fluid such that the surface tension of the fluid causes a meniscus to form along surfaces adjacent to the edge surface. The method further includes vertically positioning the edge surface with respect to the surface of the treating fluid to maintain the edge surface substantially at the surface of the bath and to expose the side faces of the article to substantially none of the treating fluid other than that contained in the meniscus, thereby limiting the action of the treating fluid on the side surfaces. Finally, the method involves removing the edge surface of the article from contact with the bath of the treating fluid after a time period sufficient to conclude the smoothing treatment by the fluid on the exposed edge surface of the article.