Abstract: A silver electrode joint having a high joint strength obtained by actively minimizing the particle size of a silver-zinc intermetallic compound at the solidification point. A joint obtained by joining an article to be joined, the joint including silver at least as the surface layer thereof, using a solder alloy which comprises 2-9 wt % of zinc, 0.0001-0.1 wt % of manganese and the balance consisting of tin, the solder joint having a joint interface wherein the particle size of a silver-zinc intermetallic compound, which is formed by silver being the surface layer of the article to be joined and zinc in the solder alloy, is 5 ?m or less.

Abstract: A silver electrode joint having a high joint strength obtained by actively minimizing the particle size of a silver-zinc intermetallic compound at the solidification point. A joint obtained by joining an article to be joined, the joint including silver at least as the surface layer thereof, using a solder alloy which comprises 2-9 wt % of zinc, 0.0001-0.1 wt % of manganese and the balance consisting of tin, the solder joint having a joint interface wherein the particle size of a silver-zinc intermetallic compound, which is formed by silver being the surface layer of the article to be joined and zinc in the solder alloy, is 5 ?m or less.

Abstract: A zinc and zinc-alloy hot-dip-coated steel sheet and an alloyed zinc and zinc-alloy hot-dip-coated steel sheet, and a method for manufacturing these steel sheets, which steel sheets are used for automobiles. A zinc and zinc-alloy hot-dip-coated steel sheet which has oxides of readily oxidizable elements just under a coated layer and which shows a decreased number of bare spots and excellent coating adhesion. According to the method, the temperature for coiling during hot rolling is set to not less than 600.degree. C. and the cooling is conducted at a slow-cooling rate so that the-oxides remain after the following steps.