Process and apparatus for cleaning and/or coating metal surfaces using electro-plasma technology

摘要

A process for cleaning an electrically conductive surface by arranging for the surface to form the cathode of an electrolytic cell in which the anode is maintained at a DC voltage in excess of 30 v and an electrical arc discharge (electro-plasma) is established at the surface of the workpiece by suitable adjustment of the operating parameters and the conductive medium in contact with the workpiece is an electrically conducting foam, characterised in that one or more vents are provided to allow the escape of gas from the foam-filled treatment zone. The process can be adapted for simultaneously coating the metal surface by including ions of the species required to form the coating in the electrically conductive medium. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed, in particular an anode assembly which comprises an anode and a treatment chamber which is provided with one or more vents to allow the escape of gas from the treatment zone.