New Hebrides Invention

Electro-Plating of Wood and Glass

THE discovery of a new electro-plating pro cess, which it is claimed by the inventor will be epoch-marking, has been made by Mons. W. Henry Caporn, of Suranda, Santo New Hebrides.

It is known as the Caporn Electro Chem ical Process and, it is stated, it enables both conductors and non-conductors of electricity to be covered with a large variety of metals.

The most successful results, however, are obtained with copper on which is superim posed a further coating of nickel, or chromium or cobalt. The inventor sends us the follow ing details: When the process is employed it is pos

sible to coat wood fabric and glass with a surface of non-corrosive metal, whilst a simi lar prospective coat can be applied to any metal, thus wood can be coated and ren dered impervious to the action of steam heat, chemical, fumes, water or acids. There is practically no limit to the thinness of the material, which can be so treated, and it is even possible for cardboard, or laminations of plywood to be given a protective coating.

The application of metallised timber, as wood treated by this process is called, are immense, for not only is the material ren dered corrosion proof, but its mechanical strength is increased to an enormous extent.

In connection with ae;ronauticaa ouilding work, metallised wood can be of the greatest use. Thus, it is possible to make seaplane floats of extremely cheap material and metal ise them as a whole, when they become im pervious to moisture and amazingly strong.

Absorption of moisture into the timber is rendered impossible and hence water-logging is obviated.