PATENTS

3880.   ------.  [WATTS, R. N.]  (Standard Oil Development Co.).  Hydrocarbon Synthesis With Spherical Catalyst Particles.  United States Patent 2,530,344, Nov. 14, 1950; appl. filed Sept. 6, 1947, Serial No. 772,595; 3 claims (Cl. 260-449.6).

Spherical catalyst particles with Fe cores and oxidized surfaces are produced by using Fe wire containing <0.2% C and a metallizing gun.  A reduced atmosphere existed in front of the gun for 6 in.  When metal is impinged upon a surface within this distance, no oxidized metal is deposited upon this surface.  When the surface is withdrawn beyond the 6 in. limit, the extent to which the metal is oxidized is a function of the distance the surface is withdrawn beyond the reducing atmosphere.  The distance may be made a function of the O₂ concentration of the atmosphere in which the operation is conducted.  The particle size of the Fe spheres is 20-200 μ; the thickness of the oxide Fe surface is <20 μ.  1 literature ref. and 3 United States patents cited.