Abstract: A method for producing a metal composite material with an embedded functional structure, in which a build-up of layers comprising a number of layers that are arranged one on top of the other in the vertical direction is produced and pressed, may involve producing the build-up of layers by providing a lower layer comprising a metal substrate, arranging at least in certain portions over the lower layer in a vertical direction an intermediate layer that is in contact with the lower layer, and arranging one or more functional structures respectively in a portion of the build-up of layers. To reduce the risk of increased degradation, before the pressing, the build-up of layers may have the same thickness in the respective portion with the functional structure as in the remaining build-up of layers. Further, a metal composite material with an embedded functional structure may be produced by such a method.

Abstract: A process for producing a steel component with a metallic, corrosion protection coating and very good mechanical properties may involve directly applying an iron-based alloy to a steel substrate. The iron-based alloy may contain 50-80% by weight of Fe, 0-30% by weight of Mg, 0-5% by weight of Al, 0-5% by weight of Ti, 0-10% by weight of Si, 0-10% by weight of Li, 0-10% by weight of Ca, 0-30% by weight of Mn, and a balance of Zn and unavoidable impurities. The steel substrate that has been coated with the iron-based alloy may then be subjected to hot forming in order to obtain the steel component. A metallic coating that protects against corrosion for steel components to be produced by the process of hot forming can be obtained.

Abstract: A reflector for helio-thermal systems may include a metallic carrier plate and a reflective coating that is applied to the carrier plate and is constructed from at least one metallic reflective layer and at least one protective layer applied to the reflective layer. Such reflectors have high reflective capabilities, are robust in relation to mechanical stress, and can be manufactured cost effectively. Such reflectors are also lightweight and dimensionally stable due to the fact that the carrier plate may be formed from a sandwich plate having at least one nonmetallic intermediate layer disposed between an upper and lower metallic cover plate. The upper cover plate may have a smoothed surface to which the reflective layer can be applied. The smoothed surface prior to the reflective layer being applied may have an arithmetic mean surface parameter Ra of less than 0.03 ?m. Methods for manufacturing such reflectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing a three-dimensionally shaped steel component from a steel sheet with a metallic coating may involve hot forming the steel sheet into the steel component. The metallic coating may involve an Fe—Al-based alloy. To protect the steel sheet or the steel component against scale formation, the Fe—Al-based alloy may be applied directly to the steel sheet by galvanic coating and/or physical vapor deposition. The coating produced in this way may contain 30-60% by weight Fe, a balance of Al, and, in some cases, 0.1-10% by weight Mg, 0.1-5% by weight Ti, 0.1-10% by weight Si, 0.1-10% by weight Li, and/or 0.1-10% by weight Ca. Before heating the coated steel sheet as part of the hot forming process, the coated steel sheet may have an Fe—Al phase is stable to above 900° C.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a corrosion-protected steel product, in particular a steel strip or steel sheet, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for plasma nitriding a steel substrate and a coating device for applying a metallic material to the steel substrate. A process for producing a corrosion-protected steel product, in particular a steel strip or steel sheet, is also disclosed, wherein a steel substrate is provided and nitrogen is diffused by plasma nitriding into the steel substrate, and wherein a metallic material is applied to the steel substrate.

Abstract: A process may be employed to produce a composite material having at least one metallic substrate and at least one polymer layer. The process may comprise applying an adhesion promoter layer across a surface of the metallic substrate and/or the polymer layer by means of plasma coating by a plasma coating system. The adhesion promoter layer may be created by driving the plasma coating system during the plasma coating such that a specific profile of the adhesion promoter layer across the surface of the metallic substrate and/or the polymer layer is established at least in some regions. The process may also involve bonding the polymer layer to the surface of the metallic substrate having the adhesion promoter layer and/or bonding the metallic substrate to the surface of the polymer layer having the adhesion promoter layer to produce the composite material.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal composite material with an embedded functional structure, in which a build-up of layers comprising a number of layers that are arranged one on top of the other in the vertical direction is produced and pressed, may involve producing the build-up of layers by providing a lower layer comprising a metal substrate, arranging at least in certain portions over the lower layer in a vertical direction an intermediate layer that is in contact with the lower layer, and arranging one or more functional structures respectively in a portion of the build-up of layers. To reduce the risk of increased degradation, before the pressing, the build-up of layers may have the same thickness in the respective portion with the functional structure as in the remaining build-up of layers. Further, a metal composite material with an embedded functional structure may be produced by such a method.

Abstract: A method for producing a flat steel product with high reflectivity, in which at least one surface has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 0.03 ?m includes providing a flat steel product, at least one surface of which has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 2.5 ?m. The flat steel product is cold rolled in a plurality of rolling passes. Also a flat steel product with high reflectivity in the finished re-rolled state on at least one of its surface has a low arithmetic mean roughness, a high gloss, and a high directed reflection. A solar concentrator is produced from such a flat steel product.

Abstract: A process for producing a steel component with a metallic, corrosion protection coating and very good mechanical properties may involve directly applying an iron-based alloy to a steel substrate. The iron-based alloy may contain 50-80% by weight of Fe, 0-30% by weight of Mg, 0-5% by weight of Al, 0-5% by weight of Ti, 0-10% by weight of Si, 0-10% by weight of Li, 0-10% by weight of Ca, 0-30% by weight of Mn, and a balance of Zn and unavoidable impurities. The steel substrate that has been coated with the iron-based alloy may then be subjected to hot forming in order to obtain the steel component. A metallic coating that protects against corrosion for steel components to be produced by the process of hot forming can be obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing a three-dimensionally shaped steel component from a steel sheet with a metallic coating may involve hot forming the steel sheet into the steel component. The metallic coating may involve an Fe—Al-based alloy. To protect the steel sheet or the steel component against scale formation, the Fe—Al-based alloy may be applied directly to the steel sheet by galvanic coating and/or physical vapor deposition. The coating produced in this way may contain 30-60% by weight Fe, a balance of Al, and, in some cases, 0.1-10% by weight Mg, 0.1-5% by weight Ti, 0.1-10% by weight Si, 0.1-10% by weight Li, and/or 0.1-10% by weight Ca. Before heating the coated steel sheet as part of the hot forming process, the coated steel sheet may have an Fe—Al phase is stable to above 900° C.

Abstract: A reflector for helio-thermal systems may include a metallic carrier plate and a reflective coating that is applied to the carrier plate and is constructed from at least one metallic reflective layer and at least one protective layer applied to the reflective layer. Such reflectors have high reflective capabilities, are robust in relation to mechanical stress, and can be manufactured cost effectively. Such reflectors are also lightweight and dimensionally stable due to the fact that the carrier plate may be formed from a sandwich plate having at least one nonmetallic intermediate layer disposed between an upper and lower metallic cover plate. The upper cover plate may have a smoothed surface to which the reflective layer can be applied. The smoothed surface prior to the reflective layer being applied may have an arithmetic mean surface parameter Ra of less than 0.03 ?m. Methods for manufacturing such reflectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a flat steel product with high reflectivity, in which at least one surface has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 0.03 ?m includes providing a flat steel product, at least one surface of which has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 2.5 ?m. The flat steel product is cold rolled in a plurality of rolling passes. Also a flat steel product with high reflectivity in the finished re-rolled state on at least one of its surface has a low arithmetic mean roughness, a high gloss, and a high directed reflection. A solar concentrator is produced from such a flat steel product.

Abstract: A bipolar plate which can be produced particularly economically for a fuel cell, with which a high degree of efficiency is guaranteed over a long service life. The bipolar plate has a core layer consisting of a steel material, the surfaces of said core layer, which are associated with the respective electrolyte carriers of the fuel cell, having a corrosion protection layer, protecting the core layer against corrosion. The corrosion protection layers consist of a metal material and extend on both sides over the whole surface of the core layer. At the same time the corrosion protection layers are in turn coated over the whole surface with an electrically conductive functional coating, which is essentially entirely impermeable for the metal ions emerging from the core layer and/or the corrosion protection layers. The invention likewise relates to at least one fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate according to the invention.

Abstract: A flat steel product having a base layer of a steel material and a multilayer coating applied thereto, and a method for producing the flat steel product. The method having the following steps: providing a steel base layer; applying a zinc layer to the base layer by electrolytic coating; applying an aluminum layer to the surface of the zinc layer, wherein no treatment is made to the surface of the zinc layer in regard to the oxides and sulfides present thereon at the end of the electrolytic zinc coating step or occurring during the course of the aluminum coating step; applying a magnesium layer to the aluminum layer; and subsequently heat treating the flat steel product in such a way that an MgZn2 layer forms in the coating above the Al layer.

Abstract: A flat steel product, comprising a base layer consisting of a steel material, and a multilayer coating applied thereto, and a method for producing the flat steel product.

Abstract: A flat steel product provided with a coating system, which in the coated state possesses an optimized combination of corrosion resistance and welding capacity, includes a base layer formed from a steel and a corrosion protection system applied onto the base layer. The corrosion protection system comprises a metallic coating less than 3.5 ?m thick, formed from a first metallic layer applied onto the base layer and a second metallic layer applied onto the first metallic layer, wherein the second metallic layer has formed a metallic alloy with the first metallic layer. The corrosion protection system also comprises a plasma polymer layer applied onto the metallic coating.

Abstract: Coating steel strips comprising, in % by weight, C: ?1.6%, Mn: 6-30%, Al: ?10%, Ni: ?10%, Cr: ?10%, Si: ?8%, Cu: ?3%, Nb: ?0.6%, Ti: ?0.3%, V: ?0.3%, P: ?0.1%, B: ?0.01%, the rest being iron and unavoidable impurities, and a method of forming steel strips are described. Up to now, such steel strips were not adequately coatable, with a metal coating ensuring outstanding corrosion-resistance and good welding properties. This is ensured by applying an aluminium layer to the steel strip before final annealing and applying the metal coating to said aluminium layer after final annealing.

Abstract: A bipolar plate which can be produced particularly economically for a fuel cell, with which a high degree of efficiency is guaranteed over a long service life. The bipolar plate has a core layer consisting of a steel material, the surfaces of said core layer, which are associated with the respective electrolyte carriers of the fuel cell, having a corrosion protection layer, protecting the core layer against corrosion. The corrosion protection layers consist of a metal material and extend on both sides over the whole surface of the core layer. At the same time the corrosion protection layers are in turn coated over the whole surface with an electrically conductive functional coating, which is essentially entirely impermeable for the metal ions emerging from the core layer and/or the corrosion protection layers. The invention likewise relates to at least one fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a corrosion-protected steel sheet for coating with an organic coating agent, includes vacuum-coating the steel sheet, which is protected against corrosion with a layer of zinc or zinc alloy, with at least one additional metal or a metal alloy. After vacuum-coating, the steel sheet is subjected to a thermal diffusion treatment and finally cooled down. The process is characterized according to the invention in that cooling takes place with a water-based coolant.

Abstract: A flat steel product provided with a coating system, which in the coated state possesses an optimized combination of corrosion resistance and welding capacity, includes a base layer formed from a steel and a corrosion protection system applied onto the base layer. The corrosion protection system comprises a metallic coating less than 3.5 ?m thick, formed from a first metallic layer applied onto the base layer and a second metallic layer applied onto the first metallic layer, wherein the second metallic layer has formed a metallic alloy with the first metallic layer. The corrosion protection system also comprises a plasma polymer layer applied onto the metallic coating.