Abstract: A steering gear housing and method of manufacturing same are provided. The steering gear housing is comprised of aluminum alloy and is at least partially anodized. The steering gear housing defines a plurality of mounting apertures. A plurality of nuts is fit into a respective one of the mounting apertures for use in mounting to a vehicle. Each of the nuts defines a plurality of splines for establishing a press-fit relationship between the mounting apertures and the nuts. The method involves casting a steering gear housing defining a plurality of mounting apertures out of aluminum alloy. Next, the casted steering gear housing is at least partially anodized. After anodization, a plurality of nuts is fit into respective ones of the mounting apertures. The nuts define splines for allowing a press-fit relationship to be established between the mounting apertures and the nuts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a removable anodizing agent, in particular for local anodic oxidation of metal surfaces, and its use, and a method for anodic oxidation by means of an anodizing agent according to the invention.

Abstract: This invention encompasses methods of producing a colored oxide layer on an aluminum material by anodizing the aluminum material in an electrolyte comprising water, sulfuric acid and oxalic acid. The anodizing step comprises passing at least two sequential current densities through the electrolyte. Methods of making and using article with a colored oxide layer on an aluminum material make by the methods disclosed herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a nanostructure including an anodized film including nanoholes. The anodized film is formed on a substrate having a surface including at least one material selected from the group consisting of semiconductors, noble metals, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and carbon. The nanoholes are cut completely through the anodized film from the surface of the anodized film to the surface of the substrate. The nanoholes have a first diameter at the surface of the anodized film and a second diameter at the surface of the substrate. The nanoholes are characterized in that either a constriction exists at a location between the surface of the anodized film and the surface of the substrate, or the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: A method for forming a coating on aluminum by contacting the aluminum with water, at least one multifunctional polymeric organic acid, a monomer of an intrinsically conductive polymer and polymerizing the ICP monomer and forming aluminum oxide by imposing an electrical potential between the aluminum surface as the anode and a cathode. The intrinsically conductive polymer salt and aluminum oxide coating that is formed resists corrosion and is resistant to de-doping during immersion in hot water.

Abstract: A colored anodic coating for use on surfaces of substrates, e.g. aluminum substrates in which it is desirable to maintain a high solar absorptance (a) and a high infrared emittance (e), particularly in low earth orbit space environments. This anodic coating is preferably a dark colored coating, and even more preferably a black coating. This coating allows a touch temperature within an acceptable design range to preclude burning of an astronaut in case of contact, but also allows a solar radiation absorption in an amount such that an a/e ratio of unity is achieved. The coating of the invention comprises a first layer in the form of an acid anodized colored anodic layer for achieving a high solar absorptance and a second or high emittance layer in the form of a clear acid anodized layer for achieving a high emittance. The entire coating is quite thin, e.g. 1-2 mils and is quite stable in a hostile space environment of the type encountered in a low earth orbit.

Abstract: Copper alloys of aluminum are afforded extended protection against surface corrosion by anodizing the aluminum surface to be protected, treating the surface with a heterocyclic aromatic azole treating agent having up to 16 carbon atoms before, during or after the anodizing step, and coating the treated surface after anodize with a fatty acid of 5 to 24 carbon atoms.