Abstract: The invention relates to a steel substrate with metal coatings for the reinforcement of vulcanizable elastomers, as well as a method for the continuous manufacture of a thus coated substrate and elastomer objects reinforced with said substrate.The substrate is provided with a first coating and a second coating at least covering part of the first one and a bonding layer being present between the two said coatings. The second coating comprises e.g. cobalt that can be applied by plasma sputtering. The coating combination can be easily adapted to the specific elastomer compositions and the reinforcement requirements aimed at.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuously cleaning a long metal substrate, such as a wire, a band, a cord, etc., the long substrate to be cleaned being led through a vacuum chamber, whereinto an inert sputtering gas, such as argon, is fed, and a sufficiently high voltage being maintained between the substrate as cathode and an anode present in the chamber so that an electric discharge takes place between the two electrode, as a result of which the substrate is cleaned by inert gas ions bombarding it during its passage through the vacuum chamber, and the anode being formed by at least one annular electrode, fitted in a long casing of heat-radiation transmitting material and the long substrate being led through the casing in longitudinal direction. The invention further relates to the thus cleaned metal substrates, as well as to the objects of polymer material reinforced therewith.

Abstract: A brass alloy coating is disclosed which is of use in the manufacture of steel reinforced rubber articles, particularly tires. The alloy contains small amounts of phosphorus, particularly phosphates, and the adhesion between the rubber and brass is thereby improved, especially under high humidity and/or high temperature conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for simulating and determining the corrosion behavior of an electrically conducting element (2) when said element is embedded in a polymer matrix. The corrosion is determined by mounting the element as working electrode (2) in a usual measuring cell (1) for electrochemical corrosion. The element is thereby embedded in a viscous, preferably transparent mass (4) as electrolyte containing selected substances capable of attacking the element (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a welding electrode with smooth surface for gas shielded arc welding, comprising a steel substrate provided with a thin, ferrous oxide containing covering layer. This covering layer has a thickness of less than 500 .ANG. and the structure of a ferric oxide gel comprising trivalent Fe-cations surrounded by oxygen containing anions, which anion-surrounded cations are amorphously bound in an aqueous gel-like network.A method is also described of producing this electrode and of using it in an arc-welding process.