Abstract: An apparatus for producing a corrosion-protected steel product, in particular a steel strip or steel sheet, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for plasma nitriding a steel substrate and a coating device for applying a metallic material to the steel substrate. A process for producing a corrosion-protected steel product, in particular a steel strip or steel sheet, is also disclosed, wherein a steel substrate is provided and nitrogen is diffused by plasma nitriding into the steel substrate, and wherein a metallic material is applied to the steel substrate.

Abstract: A bipolar plate which can be produced particularly economically for a fuel cell, with which a high degree of efficiency is guaranteed over a long service life. The bipolar plate has a core layer consisting of a steel material, the surfaces of said core layer, which are associated with the respective electrolyte carriers of the fuel cell, having a corrosion protection layer, protecting the core layer against corrosion. The corrosion protection layers consist of a metal material and extend on both sides over the whole surface of the core layer. At the same time the corrosion protection layers are in turn coated over the whole surface with an electrically conductive functional coating, which is essentially entirely impermeable for the metal ions emerging from the core layer and/or the corrosion protection layers. The invention likewise relates to at least one fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate according to the invention.

Abstract: A flat steel product provided with a coating system, which in the coated state possesses an optimized combination of corrosion resistance and welding capacity, includes a base layer formed from a steel and a corrosion protection system applied onto the base layer. The corrosion protection system comprises a metallic coating less than 3.5 ?m thick, formed from a first metallic layer applied onto the base layer and a second metallic layer applied onto the first metallic layer, wherein the second metallic layer has formed a metallic alloy with the first metallic layer. The corrosion protection system also comprises a plasma polymer layer applied onto the metallic coating.

Abstract: A bipolar plate which can be produced particularly economically for a fuel cell, with which a high degree of efficiency is guaranteed over a long service life. The bipolar plate has a core layer consisting of a steel material, the surfaces of said core layer, which are associated with the respective electrolyte carriers of the fuel cell, having a corrosion protection layer, protecting the core layer against corrosion. The corrosion protection layers consist of a metal material and extend on both sides over the whole surface of the core layer. At the same time the corrosion protection layers are in turn coated over the whole surface with an electrically conductive functional coating, which is essentially entirely impermeable for the metal ions emerging from the core layer and/or the corrosion protection layers. The invention likewise relates to at least one fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate according to the invention.

Abstract: A flat steel product provided with a coating system, which in the coated state possesses an optimized combination of corrosion resistance and welding capacity, includes a base layer formed from a steel and a corrosion protection system applied onto the base layer. The corrosion protection system comprises a metallic coating less than 3.5 ?m thick, formed from a first metallic layer applied onto the base layer and a second metallic layer applied onto the first metallic layer, wherein the second metallic layer has formed a metallic alloy with the first metallic layer. The corrosion protection system also comprises a plasma polymer layer applied onto the metallic coating.

Abstract: A cost-favorable process for production of corrosion-resistant sheet steel products, having good characteristics of use for certain application purposes includes applying a zinc-containing coating by electro-galvanizing a flat steel product, finally cleaning mechanically and/or chemically the flat steel product, applying a magnesium-based coating to the finally cleaned zinc-containing coating by means of vapour deposition, and heat treating the coated flat steel product to form a diffusion or convention layer between the zinc-containing coating and the magnesium-based coating at a temperature of 320 ° C. to 335 ° C. under normal atmosphere.