Abstract: A diffuser (24) for an annealing furnace has a plurality of radially extending generally and vertically oriented vanes (40) for radially directing furnace gases. The vanes have top edges (42) defining a generally planar support and the top edges of the vanes have a notch (38) therein for receiving a conduit (34) preferably ring shaped that extend substantially around a center portion of the diffuser plate. The conduit (34) is connected to an inlet (32) for receiving enriching gases and exit ports (50) circumferentially space about said conduit (34) passing the enriching gases into the diffuser (24) to be mixed with ambient furnace gases.

Abstract: A system for electrochemical mechanical polishing of a conductive surface of a wafer is provided. The system includes a wafer holder to hold the wafer and a belt pad disposed proximate to the wafer to polish the conductive surface. Application of a potential difference between conductive surface and an electrode and establishing relative motion between the belt pad and the conductive surface result in material removal from the conductive surface. Electrical contact to the surface is provided through either contacts embedded in the belt pad or contacts placed adjacent the belt pad.

Abstract: Rinsing or sealing solutions comprising a rare earth element and a valence stabilizer for barrier films. The treated films contain a rare earth/valence stabilizer complex. The rare earth element is selected from cerium, praseodymium, terbium, or combinations thereof, and at least one rare earth element is in the tetravalent oxidation state. The rinsing or sealing solution may also contain an optional preparative or solubility control agent. The oxidized rare earth element is present in the coating in a “sparingly soluble” form. The valence stabilizers can be either inorganic or organic in nature. A number of rare earth/valence stabilizer combinations that match the performance of conventional hexavalent chromium systems are presented.

Abstract: Electrolysis using a suitable electrolyte provides a completely nonsludging zinc phosphate conversion coating process that produces a high quality conversion coating in a very short time. The suitable electrolyte contains at least water, dissolved nitric acid, and dissolved zinc cations and optionally also contains m chemically distinct species of cations other than zinc and n chemically distinct species of anions other than anions derivable by ionization of phosphoric and nitric acids, each of m and n independently being zero or a positive integer.

Abstract: A plating processing device comprises: a plating bath, on which an object to be plated is mounted; and a sparger provided with plating nozzle and washing nozzle for jetting plating solution and washing solution, respectively, toward the object in such a manner that the used plating solution and washing solution are accumulated and collected in the plating bath. Plating solution is supplied to the plating nozzle from a plating solution tank. Washing solution is supplied to the washing nozzle from a washing solution tank. The used plating solution and washing solution are accumulated in the plating bath, are recovered to the plating solution tank and used again as a plating solution.

Abstract: Conversion coatings comprising a rare earth element and a valence stabilizer combined to form a rare earth/valence stabilizer complex are described for substrate metals. The rare earth element is selected from cerium, praseodymium, terbium, or combinations thereof, and at least one rare earth element is in the tetravalent oxidation state. The coating bath may also contain a preparative or solubility control agent. The oxidized cerium, praseodymium or terbium is present in the coating in a “sparingly soluble” form. The valence stabilizers can be either inorganic or organic in nature. A number of cerium, praseodymium, or terbium/valence stabilizer combinations are presented that can equal the performance of conventional hexavalent chromium systems.

Abstract: An oxygen emitter which is an electrolytic cell is disclosed. When the anode and cathode are separated by a critical distance, very small microbubbles and nanobubbles of oxygen are generated. The very small oxygen bubbles remain in suspension, forming a solution supersaturated in oxygen. A flow-through model for oxygenating flowing water is disclosed. The use of supersaturated water for enhancing the growth of plants is disclosed. Methods for applying supersaturated water to plants manually, by drip irrigation or in hydroponic culture are described. The treatment of waste water by raising the dissolved oxygen with the use of an oxygen emitter is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for preparing sterilizing water, which comprises an electrolyzer wherein an anode chamber (10) and a cathode chamber (20) partitioned by an ion exchange membrane (40) form a unit cell (A), being alternately arranged and successively equipped with close relation; water inlets (61, 62) and water outlets (71, 72) are provided on the end plate (60, 70) at both ends of the electrolyzer; said anode chamber (10) and cathode chamber (20) having circulative openings at the vicinity of each edge at both sides centered from anode plate (11) and cathode plate (21), of which two circulative openings of diagonal direction among them have plural passages of fan-shape, in order for water introduced through the openings to pass through the passages to rapidly go through each electrode; and a gap-control gasket (30) and a gasket for preventing leakage of electrolyte (31) having plural horizontal members are provided at the center to form an anode reaction chamber (13) and a cathode r