Abstract: A printed circuit board including electrical circuitry formed on an outer surface of the printed circuit board, the circuitry comprising copper or a copper alloy; a final finish on the circuitry, the final finish including a coating of tin on the copper or copper alloy circuitry; and an alloy cap layer on the tin coating, the alloy cap layer comprising at least two immersion-platable metals. The immersion platable metals in the alloy cap layer may be at least two metals selected from tin, silver, bismuth, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, indium, palladium, platinum, gold, cadmium, ruthenium and cobalt. The circuitry remains whisker free and solderable.

Abstract: An electric connector comprises a metal terminal or a metal shell joined to a core conductor or a metal layer portion of a substrate, wherein a Ni layer as an under layer is formed on at least a portion of the metal shell or the metal shell to be joined, and a Sn-Cu alloy layer having a copper content of 0.5-5.0 mass % is further formed on the Ni layer.

Abstract: A brazing sheet product having a core sheet (1) made of an aluminium alloy, having one or both of the surfaces of the core sheet clad with an aluminium clad layer (2), and a layer (3) comprising nickel on the outersurface of one or both the aluminium clad layer or layers (2). There is a layer (4) comprising zinc or tin as a bonding layer between the outersurface of the aluminium clad layer or layers (2) and the layer (3) comprising nickel. The aluminium clad alloy layer comprises, in weight percent: Si 2 to 18, Mg up to 8.0, Zn up to 5.0, Cu up to 5.0, Mn up to 0.30, In up to 0.30, Fe up to 0.80, Sr up to 0.20, at least one element selected from the group consisting of: Bi 0.01 to 1.0, Pb 0.01 to 1.0, Li 0.01 to 1.0, Sb 0.01 to 1.0, impurities each up to 0.05, total up to 0.20; and balance aluminium.

Abstract: A brazing sheet product and a method of manufacturing a brazing sheet product in which a layer comprising nickel is plated onto a surface of a clad layer made of an aluminium-silicon alloy containing silicon in the range of 2 to 18 weight %, wherein the surface is pre-treated by application of a bonding layer comprising zinc or tin. The application of the bonding layer may be by a zincate or a stannate treatment. The use of lead to promote wetting during brazing can be reduced or avoided, or other elements such as bismuth can be used.

Abstract: A thin film product having a nanostructured surface, a laminate product including the thin film and a temporary substrate opposite the nanostructured surface, a laminate product including the thin film and a final substrate attached to the nanostructured surface and a method of producing the thin film products. The thin film is particularly useful in the electronics industry for the production of integrated circuits, printed circuit boards and EMF shielding. The nanostructured surface includes surface features that are mostly smaller than one micron, while the dense portion of the thin film is between 10-1000 nm. The thin film is produced by coating a temporary substrate (such as aluminum foil) with a coating material (such as copper) using any process. One such method is concentrated heat deposition or a combustion, chemical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: Provided are a bonded structure by a lead-free solder and an electronic article comprising the bonded structure. The bonded structure has a stable bonding interface with respect to a change in process of time, an enough strength and resistance to occurrence of whiskers while keeping good wettability of the solder. In the bonded structure, a lead-free Sn—Ag—Bi alloy solder is applied to an electrode through an Sn—Bi alloy layer. The Sn—Bi alloy, preferably, comprises 1 to 20 wt % Bi in order to obtain good wettability of the solder. In order to obtain desirable bonding characteristics having higher reliability in the invention, a copper layer is provided under the Sn—Bi alloy layer thereby obtaining an enough bonding strength.

Abstract: An electronic component includes external electrodes formed on a base member, each external electrode including a plurality of layers of which the outermost layer is a tin plating layer. The tin plating layer has a polycrystalline structure, and atoms of a metal other than tin are diffused into the tin crystal grain boundaries. Alternatively, each external electrode includes a plurality of layers including a thick-film electrode formed on the base member, a nickel layer or a nickel alloy layer formed on the thick-film electrode and a tin plating layer formed on the nickel layer or the nickel alloy layer. The tin plating layer has a polycrystalline structure and nickel atoms are diffused into the tin crystal grain boundaries. Methods for fabricating electronic components and a circuit board provided with a plurality of electronic components are also disclosed.

Abstract: To establish a technique of further improving the oxidation resistance of the glossy surface of a copper foil that has a composite layer containing chromium, zinc, and phosphorus on its glossy surface is achieved by a copper foil having excellent oxidation resistance characterized by a composite layer containing chromium, zinc, phosphorus, and nickel formed on the glossy surface of the foil and also to a method of manufacturing the same by electrolysis.

Abstract: A brazing sheet product having a core sheet (1) made of an aluminium alloy, having one or both of the surfaces of the core sheet clad with an aluminium clad layer (2), and a layer (3) comprising nickel on the outersurface of one or both the aluminium clad layer or layers (2). There is a layer (4) comprising zinc or tin as a bonding layer between the outersurface of the aluminium clad layer or layers (2) and the layer (3) comprising nickel. The aluminium clad alloy layer comprises, in weight percent: Si 2 to 18, Mg up to 8.0, Zn up to 5.0, Cu up to 5.0, Mn up to 0.30, In up to 0.30, Fe up to 0.80, Sr up to 0.20, at least one element selected from the group consisting of: Bi 0.01 to 1.0, Pb 0.01 to 1.0, Li 0.01 to 1.0, Sb 0.01 to 1.0, impurities each up to 0.05, total up to 0.20; and balance aluminium.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having a wear-resistant cylindrical surface is made up of a metallurgically tough base steel with a substantially cylindrical surface, a thin, cylindrical metal sleeve mated to and affixed to the cylindrical surface of the base steel, and a composite metallic coating containing particles having a hardness greater than Rockwell C 70 metallurgically bonded to the surface of the sleeve opposite the base steel/sleeve interface.

Abstract: A lead-free multilayer material for plain bearings and a process for the production of corresponding bearing shells for improved emergency running and mechanical load-carrying capacity characteristics. The multilayer bearing material comprises a lead-free copper alloy having a copper content ranging from 50 to 95 wt. %, and an overlay formed of a lead-free tin and copper having a tin content ranging from 70 to 97 wt. % and a copper content ranging from 3 to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: A glass panel having a simulated metal strip applied thereto in a decorative pattern, and a method for making a glass panel having a simulated metal strip applied thereto in a decorative pattern, including a flat panel of glass, a raised bead of air-curable acrylic resin applied in a prescribed pattern to at least one surface of the flat panel of glass, and a metal film overlying the bead of acrylic resin.

Abstract: A composite multilayer material is described, which exhibits a relatively high specific load carrying capacity and relatively low wear. The composite multilayer material for plain bearings comprises a backing layer, a bearing metal layer (1), a first intermediate layer (2) of nickel, a second intermediate layer (3) of tin and nickel together with an overlay (4) consisting of copper and tin. The overlay (4) comprises a tin matrix (5), into which tin-copper particles (6) are incorporated, which consist of 39 to 55 wt. % copper, the rest being tin. At high temperatures, as occur in the case of plain bearings used in internal combustion engines, the tin migrates into the second intermediate layer (3) therebelow, resulting in concentration of the tin-copper particles (6).

Abstract: The bonding material for an electronic component comprises a metal material and fine resin particles dispersed in the metal material. Such a material may form an electrical “bump” for the component.

Abstract: A terminal material is composed of a base material and a plurality of plating layers provided on the base material and containing an Sn-plating layer as its outermost layer. When the plating layers include an Ni-plating layer, the plating layers are formed so that the Sn-plating layer does not come in contact with the Ni-plating layer. A crimp portion of a crimp terminal is formed of the terminal material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead frame material and a process for manufacturing a lead frame material. The process includes forming an intermediate layer on a lead frame substrate by vacuum deposition and forming a top protective layer on the intermediate layer by vacuum deposition. By using vacuum deposition, the coating material can be selected from a wider variety of materials; thus, coatings with novel compositions can be formed. The intermediate layer can be Ni, Ag, W, Zn, Cr, Mo, Cu, Sn, Al, Ta, Co, Nb, or alloys thereof, and the top protective layer can be Pt, Ir, Re, Ru, Rh, Pd, Au, Ag, or alloys thereof.

Abstract: A composite material for plain bearings comprises a backing layer, a bearing metal layer consisting of a copper alloy with a copper content of from 50 to 95 wt. % or an aluminum alloy with an aluminum content of from 60 to 95 wt. %, a diffusion barrier layer and an overlay, applied by electroplating, consisting of a lead-free, tin and copper-containing alloy. The invention provides a composite multilayer material whose overlay, applied by electroplating, does not exhibit any embrittlement even at relatively high temperatures, irrespective of the copper content. The overlay preferably comprises from 8 to 30 wt. % copper, 60 to 97 wt. % tin and 0.5-19 wt. % cobalt.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fitting-type connection terminal in which an insertion force for a terminal can be reduced while maintaining a stable contact resistance. If the thickness of a tin film on one of male and female terminals is 0.1 &mgr;m to 0.3 &mgr;m while the thickness of a tin film on the other terminal is not less than 0.1 &mgr;m, the hardness of the terminal is increasingly influenced by the hardness of a base material (of copper or copper alloy) with the decrease of the thickness of the tin film, so that the apparent hardness of the terminal increases. As a result, the adhesion of the tin film is suppressed, and the terminal insertion force can be reduced at least by more than 10% as compared with a reference value (1.0 &mgr;m for each of the male and female terminals). Particularly if the thickness of the tin film on the male terminal 10 is 0.1 &mgr;m while the thickness of the tin film on the female terminal 20 is 0.3 &mgr;m to 1.0 &mgr;m, the insertion force can be reduced by more than 30%.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate having light transmission properties, which has laminated on a main surface thereof a recording layer and a metal reflection layer. The recording layer is made of a compounded organic dye thin film which contains a specified aromatic amine compound in an amount of not smaller than 3% by weight but below 30% by weight based on the total weight of the recording layer and a specified asymmetric cyanine dye having absorption to light having a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm in an amount of not smaller than 30% by weight but below 97% by weight based on the total weight of the recording layer. The recording layer is applicable to a short-wavelength (500 to 700 nm) semiconductor laser so that an optical recording medium according to the DVD-ROM standards having excellent stability of the dye film and allowing a decrease in jitter component upon high density recording.

Abstract: A novel optical recording medium having at least a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate is herein disclosed, wherein at least one dipyrromethene metal chelate compound represented by formula (1) is contained in the recording layer: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.9 are each independently an alkenyl group, an aryl group or a heteroaryl group; R.sub.2 to R.sub.8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group having 20 or less carbon atoms; and M is a transition metal.

Abstract: A lead-free solder contains nickel, silver and tin. A soldered article is a workpiece containing a transition metal conductor capable of readily diffusing into melted tin; and the lead-free solder; wherein the lead-free solder is applied and bonded to the workpiece so as to be electrically and mechanically bonded to the transition metal conductor. The lead-free solder and soldered article barely cause electrode erosion during soldering or during aging after soldering, and have high tensile strength and thermal impact resistance.

Abstract: Grain oriented electrical steel sheet with a very low iron loss and a method for producing the same, wherein the surface of the iron substrate of the grain oriented electrical steel sheet is subjected to an enhancement treatment of crystal grain orientation or surface smoothing to a mean roughness of about 0.20 .mu.m or less, electroplating a chromium plating layer on the substrate with heterogeneous growth, and applying a tension coating film to the plating layer.

Abstract: A method of introducing an anti-tarnish agent into the matrix of a tin coating to reduce oxidation and/or yellowing of the tin coating. The agent is preferably zinc, indium or phosphorous and can be deposited in a molten form to alloy with the existing tin coating. Alternatively, the existing tin coating may be exposed to a chemical bath including the agent and later heated to reflow the tin coating and agent thereby incorporating the agent into the matrix of the tin coating.

Abstract: An archival medium, such as a compact disc, is made of a metal such as aluminum which is mechanically gained with particulate material under conditions that embed particulate material into the surface of the medium and visibly imageable by selective exposure to infrared laser radiation. A mechanically grained aluminum medium can also be anodically oxidized under conditions that do not impair the ability of the substrate to be laser imaged. The archival medium can be coated with opaque and transparent polymer coatings before or after imaging for security and/or protection. The coating can be a laser ablatable coating to provide a tamper-proof medium.

Abstract: The present application discloses a laser ablative recording material which has one or more image forming layers on a support, and one or more intermediate layers between said image forming layer and said support, wherein:at least one layer from among the layers on the image forming layer side contains a substance having absorption in the laser wavelengths, which is selected from dihydroperimidine-squarilium dyes represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 and/or R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 may be taken together to form 5 to 6 membered rings.

Abstract: A babbitted bearing is disclosed. The babbitted bearing includes a bearing backing and a layer of iron electroplated to the backing. A layer of babbitt material is bonded to the layer of electroplated iron. The electroplated layer provides a favorable bond between the babbitt material and the bearing backing.

Abstract: An optical information mediumis made up of a transparent substrate, on which are formed a dye recording layer of at least one dyestuff, a reflective layer of metal, and a protective layer in sequence, wherein said protective layer is formed from a plurality layers of resin which are formed sequentially. Further, the reflective layer is made of silver, and the dye recording layer is made of a material which does not contain iodine ion. The protective layer contains a material for trapping molecules and/or ions which corrode the reflective layer. For instance, a metal powder or porous pigment is contained in the protective layer, which is active on or absorbs the molecules and/or ions corroding the reflective layer.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical recording medium complying with the DVD standards, having high sensitivity, possessing high dye film stability, having a high C/N ratio during high density recording, and being capable of reducing jitter components contained in reproduced signals, by finding an organic dye thin film and a medium configuration which can be adapted for a short wavelength semiconductor laser (wavelength 500 to 700 nm) and which are satisfactory in optical characteristics, and chemical, photochemical, physical and thermal stability, the optical recording medium comprising at least a recording layer and a metallic reflecting layer laminated on the surface of a grooved resin substrate transparent to laser light; wherein the recording layer comprises an organic thin film consisting essentially of a styrylcyanine dye of a specific structure and adapted for a short wavelength laser.

Abstract: A laminated composite material, and a method of improving the surface hardness of laminated composite materials, wherein selected regions of the carrier material of the laminated composite system are treated with high-energy beams, and the temperature control is designed in such a manner that the rays penetrate into a maximum a 0.1-fold the entire thickness of the carrier material. The temperature increase in the region of the sliding material is a maximum of 80% of the melting temperature of the lowest melting constituent of said material. The laminated composite material with a rear steel substrate surface can be post-hardened. The steel substrate has at least in one part of the surface facing away from the function layer a level of hardness increased by a factor of 1.5 or more than at a depth which corresponds substantially to 0.1-fold of the thickness of the steel substrate.

Abstract: The article in accordance with the invention is a corrosion and erosion resistant article having good release characteristics which includes a metal body having a first surface thereon and a base coat adhering to the first surface. The base coat comprises at least one layer of inorganic particulate material bonded to the first surface. A second coat adheres to the base coat. That second coat comprising a cured coating of solid particulate lubricant in a phosphate/chromate metal ion solution. The invention also includes a corrosion and erosion resistant coating having good release characteristics which includes a base coat, the base coat comprising at least one layer of inorganic particulate material bonded to the first surface; and a second coat adhering to the base coat. The second coat comprises a cured coating of solid particulate lubricant in a phosphate/chromate metal ion solution.

Abstract: A composite coating provides a solderable surface on materials that cannot otherwise be soldered. The solderable coating is comprised of a composite layer of two components made of metals or metal alloys that function as a solderable material and as a material that enhances solder flow. A thin layer of at least one of the two components can also be incorporated along with the composite layer. A solderable coating can be deposited on a non-solderable surface by any of a variety of thermal spray techniques, including plasma spraying or wire arc spraying. These solderable coatings are particularly useful in the manufacturing of high power electronic components.

Abstract: A digital recording medium, such as a compact disc, having a substrate, a reflective layer and a protective layer includes a near infrared fluorophore in one of the layers. The near infrared fluorophore can be incorporated into the CD by coating, admixing, blending or copolymerization and in an amount to impart a detectable fluorescence from the fluorophore when exposed to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength ranging from about 670 nanometers (nm) to about 1100 nm. A method of marking a CD with an invisible marking and an apparatus for detecting the fluorophore is further provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of activated metal, particularly activated tinplate, and the activated metal itself. The activated metal is highly reactive with oxygen and can be used as a pyrophoric decoy material or as a catalyst.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of phase change type, and in particular, a dual side medium prepared by adhering two single side media is provided. In this medium, deformation of record marks generated in the overwriting due to difference in light absorption between the record marks and the region other than the record marks is prevented by providing a reflective layer of high light transmission, and increase in jitter and failure of track servo and focus servo caused by uneven coating of the adhesive layer and the resin protective layer are prevented. The optical recording medium comprises a substrate, a recording layer of phase change type on the surface side of the substrate, and a reflective layer and a light absorption layer disposed in this order on the surface side of the recording layer.

Abstract: An electrical conductor has a copper base substrate coated with a tin base coating layer. To inhibit the formation of a copper/tin intermetallic and the resultant depletion of the free, unreacted, tin utilized as an oxidation and corrosion barrier, a barrier is interposed between the substrate and the coating. In a first embodiment, the barrier is formed from multiple constituent layers, at least one of which is copper. The thickness ("y") of the copper layer is dependent on the anticipated service temperature and satisfies the equation y=(-1.52+0.0871x+0.00859 t).+-.50% where t=anticipated time at the service temperature, x=anticipated service temperature (Celsius), and y=the thickness of the copper layer in microinches. In a second embodiment, the barrier layer is formed from one or more constituent layers, at least one of which is iron or iron base.

Abstract: An optical disc comprising a disc having a signal- recording layer, wherein a treated layer having a surface electric resistance of from 1.times.10.sup.3 to 1.times.10.sup.13 .OMEGA. is formed on the signal-recording layer, and the surface of the treated layer is subjected to electrophotographic printing. The optical disc can be desirably used as an optical disc, in which digital signals can be recorded, reproduced or erased, such as a digital audio disc, such as a compact disc, a video disc, or a CD-ROM.

Abstract: A composition suitable for forming an optical information recording layer for carrying out recording and readout with laser beams, which comprises at least one cyanine dye, and at least one leuco compound of formulae (VII) or (VIII); and optionally, at least one aminium compound of formulae (IV) or (V).

Abstract: An optical recording medium including a substrate which transmits light, which has a main surface, and which has a groove defined in the main surface; a recording layer formed on the main surface; and a metal reflection layer formed on the recording layer, wherein the recording layer is a thin film comprised of organic dye, contains at least one cyanine dye represented by general formula (I) as a main constituent, and is capable of corresponding to short-wavelength laser beam: ##STR1## where X- represents an iodide ion, a bromide ion, a perchlorate ion, a borofluoride ion, a tetrafluorophosphate ion, a tetrafluoroantimonate ion, a methylsulfate ion or a methylbenzenesulfonate ion; one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 represents a C.sub.3-18 substituent having an unsaturated bond, and another one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represents a C.sub.3-18 substituent having one of an unsaturated bond, an alkyl group, an aryl group or an alkoxy group; Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a substrate and a recording layer which is formed on the substrate and contains an azo metal chelate compound including an azo moiety of formula (I) and a bivalent or trivalent metal; ##STR1## wherein X is OH group, CooH group or CONH.sub.2 group; Y is a residual group forming a heterocyclic ring in combination with nitrogen atoms bonded thereto; and Z is a residual group forming an aromatic ring in combination with carbon atoms bonded thereto. In addition, there is provided a method of recording information and reproducing the information using the above-mentioned optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical memory material includes a two-photon storage component which can be written from a first to a second state in response to WRITE light, mixed with a signal component which fluoresces by one-photon absorption only at the written locations in response to READ light. The storage material may be a fulgide. The memory material may also include a frequency upconversion material to aid writing. Writing is performed by a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a dynamic focussing system, for concentrating sufficient power at WRITE locations for nonlinear two-photon absorption. Crosstalk is avoided during simultaneous writing in some embodiments, by spacing the individual WRITE beams apart by an integer number of inter-beam spacings, so that non-adjacent datels are written simultaneously in a "paragraph," and the non-written areas are written at a different time with different paragraphs.

Abstract: A steel slab is rough-rolled into a sheet bar and butt-joined onto a preceding sheet bar and a widthwise end portion of the sheet bar is heated by means of an edge heater and then subjected to a continuous finish rolling through pair-cross rolls rolling on at least 3 stands to provide a hot rolled steel strip having a width of not less than 950 mm, a thickness of 0.5-2 mm and a crown within .+-.40 .mu.m, and the hot rolled steel strip is subjected to cold rolling, continuous annealing, temper rolling and, if necessary, plating treatment on the surface of the cold rolled steel strip, whereby there is obtained a steel sheet having an average thickness of not more than 0.20 mm and a width of not less than 950 mm, a thickness variation quantity in a widthwise direction is within .+-.4% of the average thickness in a region corresponding to not less than 95% of the width of the steel sheet as cold rolled and a hardness (HR30T) variation in the widthwise direction is within .+-.3 of an average hardness.

Abstract: A connective medium is provided for use in ball grid assemblies for detachable connections between electronic devices and circuit boards. The medium includes novel, discrete spheres defining an inner metallic, spherical core and one or more outer, electrically conductive concentric, hard and non-deformable metallic layers of nickel, copper or alloys thereof and a coating of silver or gold thereon.

Abstract: An optical disk with improved performance including a transparent substrate; and a recording layer over the substrate and a reflective layer formed of Au over the recording layer and having its property changed by heat treatment for a sufficient time and at a temperature in a range of about 50.degree.-120.degree. C. so as to significantly improve window margin, reflectivity, jitter.

Abstract: A phthalocyanine dye of specific structure represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): ##STR1## where Y is O or S attached to the phthalocyanine ring, Z is the group of atoms required to complete a carbon or heterocyclic ring together with C, A.sub.1 is a monovalent substituent bulkier than a hydrogen atom, and each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is H or a monovalent substituent or, in the alternative, X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, taken together, form a single bond, ##STR2## where Y and Z.sub.1 have the same meanings as defined for Y and Z in formula (1). A.sub.11 is a monovalent substituent having a branched alkyl group, which is attached to the ring completed by Z.sub.1, and s1 is the number of A.sub.11, is used for the recording layer of an optical recording layer. This phthalocyanine dye is unlikely to attack a substrate material such as PC, can be handled with ease, and has a high solubility in a coating solvent advantageous for film formation, for instance, an alcoholic solvent, e.g.

Abstract: An optical disk with improved stability and performance including a transparent substrate; and a recording layer over the substrate and a reflective layer formed of Ag over the recording layer and having its property changed by heat treatment for a time and temperature in a range of about 50.degree.-120.degree. C. so as to significantly improve window margin, reflectivity, jitter, and stability.

Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium comprising at least a recording layer, a metal reflective layer, a protective layer and a printing layer laminated on a transparent substrate, wherein the printing layer is obtained by curing a UV-curing ink composition and said ink composition contains a compound which has a solubility parameter falling in the range of 7 to 10 and which takes no part in UV curing and does not react with other components contained therein.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a substrate, and a recording layer formed on the substrate, the recording layer containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## and a compound represented by formula (II): ##STR2##

Abstract: Surface treated steel sheets for battery containers according to the present invention are composed of two surfaces, one of which is to be used as an inner surface of a battery container and the other as an outer surface of a battery container. On the inner surface, between the topmost nickel-tin alloy layer and the base steel sheet are formed intermediate layer(s) of nickel-iron, or nickel and nickel-iron, or nickel-tin-iron and nickel-iron. The present invention also relates to battery containers and batteries made from these surface treated steel sheets.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a tin-nickel alloy layer, a non-precious refractory metal layer, a sandwich layer comprised of a plurality of alternating layers of non-precious refractory metal compound and of a non-precious refractory metal, a non-precious refractory metal compound layer, and a layer comprised of a non-precious refractory metal oxide or the reaction products of a non-precious refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen.

Abstract: An optical information recording disc of DVD (Digital Video Disc) type having an information recordable layer(s) between a pair of substrates (i.e., sandwich structure) shows an improved mechanical strength and an improved storage stability when the substrate has an exposed area on its outer peripheral edge and the exposed area is placed in contact with a resin layer, or the substrate has an enlarged surface area (preferably it is exposed) on its outer peripheral edge and the enlarged surface area is placed in contact with a resin layer. An apparatus for preparing an optical information recording disc of DVD type having an improved mechanical strength and an improved storage stability is further disclosed.