Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating fibrous glass with a glass metal mainly consisting of nickel-phosphorus, under conditions free of current. According to the process a fibrous glass substrate is treated with an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and subsequently with an aqueous solution of SnCl.sub.2, in the presence of hydrochloric acid, and is then activated with a solution of palladium chloride in aqueous hydrochloric acid. Thereafter the pretreated and activated substrate is kept in a bath comprising nickel ammonium sulfate or nickel sulfate and nickel ammonium sulfate as a nickel-containing component, in combination with sodium hypophosphite, an alkali metal salt of at least one organic acid having a low molecular weight, a mineral acid, preferably sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH to 3 to 4, and optionally organic or inorganic metal-deposition regulating agent(s) at a temperature between 50.degree. to 90.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of bands or sheets of isotropic mechanical properties from copper and copper alloys, such bands or sheets being subjectable to intensive cold shaping. According to the invention the ZrB.sub.2 (zirconium boride) content of the melted metal bath is adjusted by the addition of zirconium boride to a level between 0.01% by weight and 0.075% by weight, and if desired, not more than 50% by weight of the zirconium content of the added ZrB.sub.2 is replaced by one or more of the metals Ti, V, Nv, Ca, Mg and Co, then, if desired, zirconium is added to the metal bath in a stoichiometric ratio calculated for the lead content of the alloy exceeding 0.015% by weight, then the metal bath containing the additives is solidified in the form of a band, and if desired, an inert gas atmosphere is maintained in the heat stabilizing furnace of the casting equipment and/or an inert gas lock and secondary cooling are applied during the solidification of the metal bath.

Abstract: A relatively simple and rapid process for the production of high-grade copper from an inexpensive starting material such as blister copper or copper scraps is described. The starting material is conventionally smelted and oxidized, after which the charge is subjected to a slagging operation to obtain a pre-refined copper bath. After the slagging step, an artificial slag cover is formed on the pre-refined copper bath using a mixture of (1) an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, phosphorous and boron, and (2) an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, calcium, strontium, barium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and lithium. At least two of such elements are then fed to the bath through the slag cover as alloying components. After such resulting bath is mixed for at least 30 seconds and is left standing for an additional 15 minutes, the slag cover is removed.