Iron Powder by Electrodeposition

Abstract

Electrolysing a simple metal solution at a rate of deposition exceeding the rate of simply of the metal ions diverts the current to an alternative cathode process, usually Hydrogen evolution.(i)Under these conditions the potential of the appropriate cathode process changes so rapidly across the thin cathode film of solution that the deposit instead of being a continuous adherent plate is formed as numerous discrete tree-like or dendritic shapes of very small lengths (say 0.05 mm.)These excrescences are easily broken away from the massive cathode by brushing or scraping and is obtainable as powder. However (ii) Iron Powder can also be produced from the brittle electro-deposited form. In fact, the commercial method for electrolytic Iron powder is to electro deposit Iron as a smooth plate on cathodes, stirp off the plate in sheet from and them to powder. The following article concerns itself with method of electro-depositing iron straightaway as powder.