Abstract: A material handler formed from isotropic textured aluminum sheet rolled by rolls indented with spherical media, such as steel ball bearings, producing a sheet with a low coefficient of friction relative to particulate matter like flour. The slippery sheeting may be used to make tanks, silos, conduits and guides to facilitate storage and flow of the particulate matter.

Abstract: A material handler formed from isotropic textured aluminum sheet rolled by rolls indented with spherical media, such as steel ball bearings, producing a sheet with a low coefficient of friction relative to particulate matter like flour. The slippery sheeting may be used to make tanks, silos, conduits and guides to facilitate storage and flow of the particulate matter.

Abstract: A method for surface treating work rolls to produce isotropic textured aluminum sheet features indenting the surface of the working rolls that produce the sheet with spherical media such as steel ball bearings having the requisite properties to avoid fracture and resulting in a smooth surface lacking facets. The spherical media can be introduced into a nip between two rolls and indent by compression, but ultrasonic peening or knurling. The aluminum sheet produced by the roll has properties that facilitate mechanical forming, such as when the sheet is processed by forming tools.

Abstract: A method for surface treating work rolls to produce isotropic textured aluminum sheet features shot-peening the surface of the working rolls that produce the sheet. The media may be steel balls, such as ball bearings or other media, such as glass or ceramic balls, depending upon the optical properties desired for the aluminum sheet, e.g., in terms of diffuseness or brightness of reflection. The various parameters of shot-peening can be varied to accommodate given properties of the roll, such as hardness and existing surface texture to achieve a given desired surface texture. A sheet surface with target properties and the work roll processing needed to produce it may be generated by computer modeling.

Abstract: Steel tooling for die-casting low iron content aluminum alloys is surface treated with a layer of CrN applied to a thickness of at least 4 microns, and preferably 5-10 microns, by physical vapor deposition (PVD), and preferably a steered are evaporation PVD process. The CrN protects the steel tooling from dissolution and erosion by the highly active molten aluminum.