Abstract: A method of forming a coating of an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy on a steel strip to form an Al—Zn—Mg—Si coated steel strip is disclosed. The method includes the steps of dipping steel strip into a bath of molten Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy and forming a coating of the alloy on exposed surfaces of the steel strip and cooling the coated strip with cooling water. The cooling step includes controlling the pH of cooling water to be in a range of p H 5-9. Particular embodiments focus on Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloys that contain the following elements in % by weight: Zn: 30 to 60, Si: 0.3 to 3, Mg: 0.3 to 10, and Balance Al and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: An Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coated strip that has Mg2Si phase particles that are ?2 ?m and have a globular shape. A method of forming an Al—Zn—Si—Mg alloy coated strip comprises (a) heat treating a solidified coating to facilitate globularisation of Mg2Si phase particles in the coating and/or (b) changing the coating bath chemistry to form intermetallic compound phases that act as nucleation sites for Mg2Si phase particles with the result that small Mg2Si particles form on solidification of the coating.

Abstract: A method for coating a metal substrate, such as a steel strip, is disclosed. The method comprises vapor or electro-depositing an alloy control material, as described herein, onto the substrate and passing the substrate through a bath of molten coating material and forming a coating of the coating material onto the deposited alloy control material.

Abstract: A steel strip having a coating of an aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy on at least one surface of the strip is disclosed. The strip is characterised in that the aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy contains less than 1.2 wt. % silicon and also contains magnesium. A method of forming a coating of an aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy on a steel strip is also disclosed. The method includes moving steel strip upwardly through a coating pot containing a bath of an aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy and having an opening in a bottom wall of the pot and forming a coating of the alloy on the strip. The method is characterized by minimizing residence time of steel strip in contact with the aluminium-zinc-silicon alloy bath in the pot.

Abstract: A clip (61) for holding together an upper roof cladding sheet (29a) and a lower roof cladding sheet (29b) in an end to end, i.e. end lap, relationship on a roof. The clip is formed to fit over and lock onto a rib (31) of the lower cladding sheet and to retain the upper sheet on the clip. An elongate weather strip (57) is formed from a compressible material and includes a pan section (81) that can fill a gap between overlapping pans of the cladding sheets. The pan section includes an upper surface having a series of troughs (87) and ridges (89) along the length of the pan section that has the result of providing the pan section with a variable height along the length of the pan section. The ridges of the pan section compress when the upper roof cladding sheet is positioned on and engaged with the lower cladding sheet in an overlapping relationship with the pan section filling the gap between the cladding sheets.

Abstract: A channel inductor of a channel induction furnace, the channel inductor comprising (a) a channel liner and (b) a back-up liner that supports the channel liner such that the integrity of the channel liner is not compromised during heat-up, dry-out, or operation of the channel induction furnace.

Abstract: A coated substrate including: a substrate including a treated layer, a photocatalytic layer, and a protective layer between the photocatalytic layer and the treated layer, the protective layer comprising colloidal particles dispersed in a matrix, the colloidal particles including first and second types of particles that differ in their respective particle size distributions and which together provide a physical barrier by virtue of the first, smaller particles at least partially filling interstices between the second, larger particles and thereby impede photocatalyst derived degradation of the treated layer, the first type of colloid particles comprising hydrolyzed silica based material such as reactive silica condensate particles or polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, or mixtures thereof, the protective layer having an effect of less than 20 delta E units on the color and gloss of the substrate.

Abstract: A coated substrate including a substrate including a treated layer, a photocatalytic layer, and a protective layer for impeding photocatalyst derived degradation of the treated layer, the protective layer being provided between the photocatalytic layer and the treated layer, the protective layer comprising colloidal particles distributed in a matrix comprised at least partly of an organosilicon phase which is oxidizable by the reactive oxygen species to form a non-volatile inorganic phase, wherein the organosilicon phase includes a surfactant incorporating an organosilicon component.

Abstract: A method of producing coil plate on a hot strip mill is disclosed. The method includes coiling hot rolled coil plate strip at a temperature that is selected (a) to minimize precipitation of Cr/Mo carbides or (b) so that any Cr/Mo carbides that form are sufficiently fine that they go into solution in any subsequent heat treatment of coil plate made from the strip.

Abstract: A channel inductor of a channel induction furnace is disclosed. The channel inductor comprises a channel liner that defines a channel for a molten metal to flow through the channel inductor. The channel liner comprises an inlet and an outlet for the molten metal and a flange for mounting the channel liner to a refractory material lining of a pot of the channel inductor furnace. The channel liner being formed from a ceramic material that is resistant to chemical attack by the molten metal in the channel, whereby in use of the channel induction furnace direct contact between the molten metal and the channel inductor is limited to contact with the channel liner (including the flange) only and molten metal does not contact other parts of the channel inductor.

Abstract: A metallic coated steel strip includes a steel strip and a metallic coating on at least one side of the strip. The metallic coating includes an Al—Zn—Mg—Si overlay alloy layer and an intermediate alloy layer between the steel strip and the overlay alloy layer. The intermediate alloy layer has a composition of, by weight, 4.0-12.0% Zn, 6.0-17.0% Si, 20.0-40.0% Fe, 0.02-0.50% Mg, and balance Al and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: A channel inductor of a channel induction furnace, the channel inductor comprising (a) a channel liner and (b) a back-up liner that supports the channel liner such that the integrity of the channel liner is not compromised during heat-up, dry-out, or operation of the channel induction furnace.

Abstract: A coated substrate including: a substrate including a treated layer, a photocatalytic layer, and a protective layer between the photocatalytic layer and the treated layer, the protective layer comprising colloidal particles dispersed in a matrix, the colloidal particles including first and second types of particles that differ in their respective particle size distributions and which together provide a physical barrier by virtue of the first, smaller particles at least partially filling interstices between the second, larger particles and thereby impede photocatalyst derived degradation of the treated layer, the first type of colloid particles comprising hydrolysed silica based material such as reactive silica condensate particles or polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, or mixtures thereof, the protective layer having an effect of less than 20 delta E units on the colour and gloss of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of controlling “rough coating” and “pinhole-uncoated” surface defects on a steel strip coated with a aluminum-zinc-silicon alloy. The alloy has 50-60% wt Al, 37-46% wt Zn and 1.2-2.3% wt Si. The method includes heat treating the steel strip in a heat treatment furnace and thereafter hot-dip coating the strip in a molten bath and thereby forming a coating of the alloy on the steel strip. The method is characterized by controlling the concentration of (i) strontium or (ii) calcium or (iii) strontium and calcium in the molten bath to be at least 2 ppm.