Application of a composite copper-titanium-carbide material in electric vacuum devices

Conclusions

It is demonstrated that thin layers of carbides, in particular TiC and ZrC, can be successfully applied to copper, molybdenum, and nickel parts of electric vacuum devices by the electric spark process. A coating deposited by this method adheres firmly to its substrate and has a number of attractive qualities, including good antidynatron and “blacking” properties and stability under conditions of electron bombardment in a vacuum. Analysis of data yielded by tests on devices with copper anodes coated with titanium carbide shows that anode plating can significantly lower grid temperatures and hence decrease thermally generated currents from grids. It also decreases noise in devices — an effect which would prove particularly beneficial to short- and ultrashortwave radio transmission equipment.