[NewCandle] Anodizable metals and essential conditions for glowdischarge?

[Horace Heffner]

On Sep 16, 2008, at 12:03 PM, Keith Nagel wrote:
>
> So if we all agree on the experimental evidence showing glow
> for both barrier and porous oxide layers, my earlier speculation
> was obviously in error and my explanation above would cover
> both cases. Does that seem reasonably to you?

It still seems to me possible a significant glow occurs within the  
electrolyte near the surface.  I had excellent results using only  
very weak NaOH.  Nothing but an oxide/hydroxide layer can form from  
that. The description of the electrolyte based process as I  
envisioned it starts on page 3 of:

http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/GlowExper.pdf

The blue-green glow I think is essentially caused by recombination.

The glow mechanism described also accounts for the diode effect:  The  
diode effect comes from the difference in the high mobility of  
protons through the cathode (or anode) interphase layer vs the low  
mobility of the relatively big negative ions through the anode  
interphase layer.

There can of course be various other glow causing phenomena, but the  
above applies to a pure or nearly pure water electrolyte.  My main  
objective was to create a high proton and electron tunneling rate  
environment out in the electrolyte, in order to create fusion and  
avoid cathode maintenance problems typical for a cold fusion device.   
I expect a good clean high voltage glow will create tritium as a  
marker of the expected effect. The basis for that is my deflation  
fusion model, and the fact water is really H1.5O, not H2O.


>
> It's worth noting that in the case of the porous
> oxide layer that the appearance of the glow will be altered
> as the bulk of the oxide is sitting between the viewer and the
> glow region. I've seen this with the oxalic acid system;
> the oxide layer grows quite thick and I remember clearly seeing it
> interposed between the glow and the solution.
>
> I'll have to give that zinc system a try. It also struck me
> this morning that I had left magnesium off the list. A
> dangerous experiment, but we haven't ignited aluminum yet
> so perhaps the magnesium won't catch fire... that would be
> very messy, water and magnesium fires are pretty evil.
> Fortunately, I now have a safe area I can do these tests
> without fear of rousing the ire of the NYFD.
>
> K.

I had no luck with magnesium when I tried it.  It may well work with  
the right electrolyte.  I would guess acetic acid would have the best  
chance of working.

Here is a relevant post from the past.

>
> On Jan 12, 2006, at 1:32 PM, Horace Heffner wrote:

> Re: Keronite

>> Googling "plasma electrolytic oxidation" magnesium there is  
>> surprisingly a lot of stuff too.  I had no luck getting magnesium  
>> to produce the anode glow, but back when I tried it I didn't know  
>> what I was doing.
>>
>> One article of interest is <http://www.keronite.com/pdf/ 
>> Galvanotechnikf%20translation.pdf>
>>
>> Begin quote:
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  
>> - - - - - - -
>> On 13th November, Koenigsdorf Oberflaechentechnik of Wolfhagen  
>> presented
>> a new facility for the surface treatment of aluminium and  
>> magnesium and their
>> alloys.  ...  Electrostatic
>> powdercoating is used to apply almost any colour to aluminium or  
>> zinc plated
>> steel parts.  ... As a pre-treatment, architectural components are
>> chromated using green or yellow chrome, or they are  
>> anodised.  ...  The anodising
>> plant is equipped with 22 baths and all processes are operated in  
>> accordance
>> with ISO standards and DIN 17611.
>>
>> Seamlessly, the new Keronite plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO)  
>> process
>> has been added to the range of surface treatments offered by  
>> Koenigsdorf.
>> This special form of PEO has its origins in Russia where Dr Alexander
>> Shatrov and Dr Victor Samsonov, working separately, developed two  
>> different
>> versions of the process which differed only in terms of the  
>> electrical
>> parameters and the electrolyte solutions used.  Today, these two  
>> renowned
>> experts work for Keronite Ltd in Cambridge on the optimisation of  
>> the process
>> for global market penetration.  Since 1999, the surface treatment  
>> of light
>> metals and their alloys using PEO has been known throughout the  
>> world as
>> Keronite and marketed through a network of overseas  
>> representatives and
>> partners.   Other terminology has also been used to describe  
>> different plasma
>> electrolytic processes, such as plasma or spark anodising.  ...
>>
>> According to Keronite, protective ceramic layers can be achieved  
>> on a wide
>> variety of different light metals.  Magnesium, aluminium, titanium  
>> and their
>> alloys as well as zirconium, tantalum, aluminium-berillium and  
>> aluminium-
>> titanium alloys can be treated using this process.   The  
>> characteristic
>> properties of the oxide layer include extreme hardness and an  
>> excellent
>> atomic bond to the substrate metal as the coating grows both into  
>> and out of
>> the substrate due to the formation of plasma discharge.  ...
>>
>> One of the main weaknesses of aluminium as a structural material  
>> is its
>> tendency to wear when there is friction between two components.   
>> In certain
>> cases, this can quickly lead to abrasion where dissimilar  
>> materials are used.
>> The very thin, naturally passive surface of aluminium does not  
>> provide
>> adequate protection in such situations.  With a layer of Keronite  
>> the surface
>> layer of oxide is transformed into a thicker coating which doesn’t  
>> only protect
>> against wear but also provides superior corrosion resistance.   
>> This makes
>> lightweight aluminium suitable for use in a wide variety of new  
>> applications,
>> not possible with conventional anodising. ...
>>
>> The coatings develop gradually.  A thin intermediate layer, maximum 1
>> micron, at the interface between the ceramic layer and the metal  
>> substrate,
>> provides an atomic bond.  Next, there is the main functional layer  
>> which has a
>> micro-hardness of 900-2000 HV and a porosity of 2-15%.  On the  
>> surface
>> there is a more porous outer layer with a hardness of 400-1000  
>> HV.   The
>> hardness values vary from alloy to alloy: the values given here  
>> all relate to
>> aluminium alloys.  The graduated porosity of the layers is not  
>> achieved by
>> altering the process parameters but is characteristic of the  
>> process itself, as
>> the porosity increases to a certain extent with the thickness of  
>> the coating.
>>
>> ...
>>
>> Plasma electrolytic Keronite coatings grow in a predictable and  
>> controllable
>> way and can be reproduced time after time almost to the micron.    
>> Even
>> geometrically complex components, which create problems for coating
>> techniques with less throwing power, can be coated with a uniform  
>> layer.
>> The speed of deposition of the coating can be set at 1-10 microns  
>> per minute.
>> Depending upon the substrate used, a coating of 10-150 microns can be
>> applied to aluminium and 5-50 microns on magnesium.   In extreme  
>> cases,
>> coatings of 400 microns can be achieved on aluminium, creating an
>> extraordinary electrical and thermal barrier effect.   Coated  
>> parts can also
>> withstand extreme temperatures of up to 2000 C for a short period,  
>> thanks to
>> the thermally resistant ceramic surface.   The electrical  
>> insulation properties
>> remain stable at temperatures up to 500 C, making Keronite  
>> coatings ideal for
>> electrical and electronic components.
>>
>> Compared with oxide layers created by hard anodising techniques,  
>> Keronite
>> coatings are more wear resistant because they are harder, they can be
>> applied to a much wider range of substrates and are less harmful  
>> to the
>> environment.   Moreover, the substrate metal is not subjected to  
>> thermal
>> stress, as the process takes place in electrolyte temperatures of  
>> only 10-60 C.
>> A further advantage is that the parts being coated do not need any  
>> form of
>> pre-treatment.  ...
>>
>> Because of the low concentration of the mildly alkaline  
>> electrolyte solutions
>> which contain no chrome, no ammonia and no other toxic chemicals,  
>> there is
>> no need for special environmental or health and safety measures  
>> either, and
>> the disposal of spent electrolyte is problem-free.
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  
>> - - - - - - -
>> Horace Heffner
>>


Best regards,

Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/