Hi Rod
Heres an abriefed version:
Patent - 4,246,075, Hilbertz, W.H., Mineral accretion of large surface
[SIZE=+1]structures, building components and elements[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Jan. 20, 1981.[/SIZE] Summary: Wolf Hilbertz' first patent on the process of seament
production by electroaccretion. By topic heading:
I. Background of the Invention - A very brief summary of the mineral
content of ocean water and past attempts to utilize electrodeposition of
minerals for corrosion protection of metallic marine structures.
II. Summary of the Invention - A description of Hilbertz' proposal to
use shaped metallic cathodes as accretion forms for the creation of
building components. So far as electrical power requirements, he states
that the: "...current may be of a density of up to 15000 mA/sq.ft. with
an electric field potential between the electrodes of up to 30,000 volts."
III. Detailed Description of the Invention
IIIa. General Discussion - A description of the mineral content in ocean
water and their use by living organisms. Non biological mineral
extraction methods such as stalactite formation and electroaccretion are
described in terms of the chemical and physical mechanisms. The
results of X-ray diffraction analysis of sea water accreted material is
given. The composition of the electroaccreted material in Hilbertz'
experiments turned out to be mostly Mg(OH)2 with small amounts of
calcium compounds.
IIIb. Electrodeposition of Minerals onto Large Complex Surfaces as
Structures - This section contains some descriptions of electroaccretion
test runs. Steel mesh was used as the cathode material. Listed as
possible anode materials were : "...iron, steel, lead, platinum,
columbium..." A test was described where the voltage applied between
the anode and the cathode was 6 volts and the current density 189
mA/ft2. After an accretion time of 170 hours accretion thickness on
the cathode material ranged from 2.5 cm to 2.3 mm. Hilbertz states the
general rule that the slower the accretion rate, the stronger the resultant
material. Phasing, the alternation of electrodeposition with biological
accretion is described briefly. No claims were made so far as this
producing materials with superior structural properties. The
possibilities of having the cathode and anode alternate roles by
reversing the electrical drive polarity was briefly described as a
possibility without detailing any experimental data on this technique.
IIIc. Specific Engineering and Architectural Applications - In this
section Hilbertz describes a proposal for electroaccreting structures for
OTECs, repairing them in place if they suffer damage and pumping
water by electrolytic bubble lift.
IIId. Advantages of Mineral Accretion Technology - The principle
advantage claimed over conventional construction technology for
marine applications is the ability to effect in-place repair of the
structure.
IV. Claims - three pages of legalese detailing the process of
electroaccretion of structures in fluid electrolytes such as sea water.
Carl
