Abstract: The surface appearance of a wire or tube coated with a liquid metal may be improved by the use of a gas jet wiping nozzle of defined shape to wipe excess molten metal from the wire or tube. The nozzle has an upper annular part and a lower annular part, each of the annular parts has an upper and a lower annular surface meeting in an annular edge. Adjacent surfaces of the upper and lower annular parts define between them an annular gas passage terminating in an annular gas orifice adapted to surround a wire or tube being wiped. The included angle between the upper surface of the upper annular part and the direction of travel of gas leaving the gas orifice being smaller than (80-x).degree. and the included angle between the lower surface of the lower annular part and the direction of travel of gas leaving the gas passage being smaller than (70+x).degree.

Abstract: In the gas jet wiping of galvanized wire strip or tube the gas jet wiping nozzle and, preferably a reactive gas containment vessel used for modifying the surface coating on the wire, are made in two or more non-annular parts which when abutted together form an annulus. The parts may be releasably held together in their abutted annular form until the wire, strip or tube requires to be rethreaded, then the parts can be separated from one another transversely of the direction of travel of the wire, strip or tube through the nozzle or containment vessel. The threading of the wire, strip or tube through an annular nozzle or containment vessel is thereby avoided.

Abstract: The surface quality and luster of galvanized wire produced by the gas jet wiping method and cooled by jets of a cooling fluid may be improved by exposing the wire to a reactive gas atmosphere containing sulphide or chloride radicals after the wire has passed through the gas jet wiping nozzle and before it is contacted by the cooling fluid. The wire is exposed to the reactive gas atmosphere for a sufficient length of time to form a protective surface coating of metal sulphide or chloride.

Abstract: A method of preparing small samples for analysis by instrumental techniques is disclosed, wherein the method includes steps of holding a representative plurality of samples in contact with a surface of a backing member, with said samples in close proximity to each other, and linishing or grinding an area of said samples across a surface parallel or tangential to said surface of said backing member.