Patented July 10, 1934 1,965,760

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,965,760 FLUX WASH, FOR GALVANZNGS Allen T. Baldwin, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Hanson-Wan Winkle-Munning Company, Matawan, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application March 23, 1932, Serial No. 600,837 8 Claims. (C. 148-23) This invention relates to flux washes for gal is better able to wet the work surface and to be vanizing, as used for example for final prepara carried thereby in the form of a film into the tion of the metal just prior to its being introduced molten zinc, where it is driven off and produces into the hot dip galvanizing kettle. the flux blanket in the form of a good stable 5 Various types of flux washes are in common use, puffy blanket. By continuously producing the 60 Some of which employ a dilute solution of hydro flux at the point where its action upon the work chloric acid in , and others employ Solutions Surface is required, and continuously, though of salammoniacorzinc chloride. While very gradually, renewing the flux at this point, these examples do not represent all the various the work is at all times maintained in a most 10 types employed, they will be sufficient to illustrat favorable condition by a fresh and highly active 65 material. At the same time, the receding froth the general character of such flux Washes. or foam slowly spreads or flows toward the far end The general purpose of a flux wash is to wet the of the kettle, maintaining the protective blanket metal surface with a film of suitable material to over the molten zinc surface, and eventually the properly condition the surface in preparation for spent flux may be removed at a point remote from 70 5 the introduction of the work into the molten zinc. the entry of the work. Such flux washes are used at varying tempera Within the principles of my invention, many tures from room temperature to the boiling point different compounds and materials may be em of the solution, and different plants have their in ployed. The particular composition of the flux dividual preferences as to the temperature and s 20 concentration of the flux wash. Higher tem wash will naturally depend on circumstances, peratures tend to reduce "spitting' at the point and to a considerable extent on individual prefer of contact of the work with the hot zinc or the ence. If, for example, the operator prefers to flux blanket. Since the flux wash is usually of make up his flux blanket on the zinc kettle in the acid reaction, due regard must be had to the va old accustomed manner, the flux wash may com 25 rious factors which bear on the subject of Surface prise the usual dilute in water corrosion. Among these may be mentioned Con with an addition of a frothing agent such as centrations, temperature, degree of acidity and glycerine, tallow, Oatmeal, bran, soapbark or other the time ensuing between the moment when the glucosides such as licorice root, saponins, amyg work leaves the flux wash and the moment when dalin, phloridzin, populin, Salicin, soap wort roots 30 it enters the galvanizing kettle. and tannin, or a carbohydrate such as xylose, The object of the present invention is to in dextrose, cane Sugar, galactose, lactose, maltose, prove the character and action of the flux wash corn starch or potato starch. In general, frothing not only with respect to the preparation of the agents which will dissolve, be suspended, or spread work for introduction into the galvanizing kettle, as a film on the flux wash, may be employed. The 35 but also with a view to maintaining a highly fa quantities are to a considerable extent optional, 90 vorable environment at the point of introduction but one- or two-hundredths of a pound per gallon of the work into the molten zinc. In one im of liquid will be satisfactory. portant form of the invention the flux wash serves In a preferred form of the invention, the fux not only the functions of preparing the metal wash will contain all the ingredients of the flux 40 prior to its introduction into the zinc kettle, but composition, such as salammoniac, zincammonium 95 also continuously produces and maintains at the chloride or mixtures thereof, and a small amount point of introduction a frothy flux blanket due to of frothing agent such as any of those already certain materials carried by the Work surface enumerated. The frothing agent may represent from the flux wash into the galvanizing kettle. from 1 to 2%, and the fluxing compound 98 or 00 45 Indeed, the flux wash may be so constituted, in 99%, of the flux composition, and a suitable flux accordance with my invention, that all ingredi wash may be prepared from this by dissolving it ents essential to the production and maintenance in water in the proportion of, say, 1 to 3 pounds of a frothy flux blanket may be continuously per gallon. Obviously, the particular proportions supplied from the flux wash itself; and in this, a are not critical, and those stated may be increased preferred form of the invention, the flux wash or reduced. A typical example of a fluxing com 05 comprises an aqueous solution of a suitable flux position to be dissolved in the preparation of the ing compound, Such as Salammoniac, zinc ammo flux wash is as follows:- nium chloride, or the like, and a frothing agent which has the property of reducing surface ten Zinc (Zn(NH4)2Cl or 55 sion and increasing viscosity So that the Solution Zn(NH4)3Cls), 98 pounds. Soapbark, 2 pounds. 10 2 1,965,760 Such material dissolved in water in the propor tion of 1 to 3 pounds per gallon has given Satis to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath cori factory results on various kinds of work, with the taining fluxing material selected from the group flux wash being maintained at varying tempera consisting of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride tures from room temperature to the boiling point and zinc ammonium chloride, and a flux frothing of the solution, and has been found to fully supply ingredient selected from the group consisting of and maintain the flux blanket on the zinc kettle glucosides, tallow, glycerine and carbohydrates. merely by the "drag-out' carried by the work 2. A flux wash for application to a metal prior from the flux wash to the galvanizing kettle. The to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con 0. work from such a flux wash does not show Surface taining fluxing material selected from the group corrosion, "spitting' is substantially eliminated, consisting of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride clean bright deposits are obtained, and little or and Zinc ammonium chloride, and a glucoside. no attention to the flux blanket itself is required 3. A flux wash for application to a metal prior other than to occasionally remove spent flux at a to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con 5 point remote from the entry of the work-into the taining fluxing material selected from the group zinc kettle. consisting of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride I have attempted to point out that the inven and zinc ammonium chloride, and a carbohydrate. tion is not limited to the use of specific materials, 4. A flux wash for application to a metal prior but comprehends the principle of coaction of to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con 20 materials having their prescribed functions re taining fluxing material selected from the group gardless of what the particular materials may be. consisting of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride The reduction of Surface tension and increase in and Zinc ammonium chloride, and soapbark. viscosity enables the flux wash to better wet and 5. A flux wash for application to a metal prior cling to the work surface. The same material to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con 25 which produces those effects Serves also as a taining Zinc ammonium chloride and a flux froth frothing agent or froth stabilizer in the flux ing ingredient Selected from the group consisting 10 blanket maintained on the molten zinc. The of glucosides, tallow, glycerine and carbohydrates. hydrochloric acid, Salammoniac, zinc ammonium 6. A flux Wash for application to a metal prior chloride or the like, prepares the Work Surface to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con 30 prior to delivery of the Work to the zinc kettle, taining zinc ammonium chloride and a glucoside. and in the case of salts such as those mentioned 7. A flux wash for application to a metal prior 105 may also serve as the fluxing compound in which to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con the froth is produced. On the molten zinc. The taininghydrate. zinc ammonium chloride and a carbo invention may thus be regarded as providing a 35 new method of producing and maintaining gal 8. A flux wash for application to a metal prior vanizing fluxes, as well as providing a new and to galvanizing, comprising an aqueous bath con 10 improved flux Wash. taining zinc ammonium chloride and soapbark. I claim:- 40. 1. A flux Wash for application to a metal prior ALLENT.BALDWIN. 115

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