Abstract: Methods for deoxidizing metallic surfaces are disclosed. Such a method may include contacting a surface of a metal strip with one or more chemical solutions until a potential drop across a thickness of the metal strip is less than a pre-selected value. To process a metal strip such that it may be suitable for fabrication of a bipolar plate for use in a fuel cell, the metal strip may be processed until the potential drop is less then about 15 mV. A surface of the metal strip may be contacted for a first period of time with a first chemical solution having a pH of between 10 and 14. Thereafter, the surface may be contacted for a second period of time with a second chemical solution having a pH of between 1 and 3. A conductive organic coating may then be applied to the surface. Such methods are particularly suitable for use in connection with a coil coating process.

Abstract: Operational problems such as scale and sludge formation which are encountered in phosphating processes using compositions containing zinc and at least one of Ni, Co, or Zn may be alleviated by maintaining an effective level of dissolved iron cations in such compositions.

Abstract: Metal surfaces are treated with acidic aqueous compositions to form conversion coatings. The acidic aqueous compositions contain fluorometallate anions, divalent and/or trivalent cations of certain elements such as zinc, phosphorus-containing inorganic oxyanions, phosphonate anions containing phosphorus atoms directly bonded to carbon atoms, and water-soluble and/or water-dispersible organic polymers and/or polymer-forming resins.

Abstract: A chemically and thermally stable chromate free aqueous liquid treatment for metals, especially aluminum, that imparts corrosion resistance as good as that from conventional chromate containing treatments, contains water and a fluoroacid selected from the group consisting of H2TiF6, H2 ZrF6, H2HfF6, H2SiF6, H2GeF6, H2SnF6, HBF4, and mixtures thereof; a water soluble organic carboxylic acid that contains at least two hydroxyl groups, exclusive of the hydroxyl groups that are part of any carboxyl groups, per carboxyl group in each acid molecule, the water soluble salts of such acids, and mixtures thereof; a source of phosphate ions; and an organic component selected from the group consisting of tannins and amino-phenolic polymers.

Abstract: A chemically and thermally stable chromate free aqueous liquid treatment for metals, especially aluminum, that imparts corrosion resistance as good as that from conventional chromate containing treatments, contains water and a fluoroacid selected from the group consisting of H2TiF6, H2 ZrF6, H2HfF6, H2SiF6, H2GeF6, H2SnF6, HBF4, and mixtures thereof; a water soluble organic carboxylic acid that contains at least two hydroxyl groups, exclusive of the hydroxyl groups that are part of any carboxyl groups, per carboxyl group in each acid molecule, the water soluble salts of such acids, and mixtures thereof; a source of phosphate ions; and an organic component selected from the group consisting of tannins and amino-phenolic polymers.

Abstract: Operational problems such as scale and sludge formation which are encountered in phosphating processes using compositions containing zinc and at least one of Ni, Co, or Zn may be alleviated by maintaining an effective level of dissolved iron cations in such compositions.

Abstract: Metal surfaces are treated with acidic aqueous compositions to form conversion coatings. The acidic aqueous compositions contain fluorometallate anions, divalent and/or trivalent cations of certain elements such as zinc, phosphorus-containing inorganic oxyanions, phosphonate anions containing phosphorus atoms directly bonded to carbon atoms, and water-soluble and/or water-dispersible organic polymers and/or polymer-forming resins.

Abstract: Phosphate conversion coatings having very fine crystal size are obtained using liquid compositions containing phosphate, zinc cations and relatively low concentrations of Co, Ni and Mn.

Abstract: Phosphate conversion coatings having very fine crystal size are obtained using liquid compositions containing phosphate, zinc cations and relatively low concentrations of Co, Ni and Mn.