Abstract: Disclosed is a method of electrolytically separating a paint coating front a metal surface comprising the steps of providing a metal member having a surface having a paint coating thereon and contacting the member with an essentially neutral electrolytic solution. The metal member is made cathodic in an electrolytic cell and current is passed from an anode through the electrolytic solution to the metal member for a time sufficient to cause the paint coating to separate from the metal member.

Abstract: A method for making a light metal-rare earth metal alloy comprises adding a pellet to a substantially flux-free bath of molten light metal, said pellet including a mixture of rare earth metal-containing compound and one or more light metal powders. On a preferred basis, such mixtures comprise scandium oxide, up to about 10 wt. % aluminum powder and a substantial majority of magnesium powder, all of which are substantially similar in median particle size. This mixture is preferably compacted under a pressure of about 7 kpsi or more, then added to a bath of molten magnesium or molten aluminum to make magnesium-scandium, magnesium-aluminum-scandium, or aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloys therefrom. There is further disclosed a method for making an alloy containing about 7-12 wt. % lithium, about 2-7 wt. % aluminum, about 0.4-2 wt. % scandium, up to about 2 wt. % zinc and up to about 1 wt. % manganese, the balance magnesium and impurities.

Abstract: A dual-phase magnesium-based alloy consisting essentially of about 7-12% lithium, about 2-6% aluminum, about 0.1-2% rare earth metal, preferably scandium, up to about 2% zinc and up to about 1% manganese. The alloy exhibits improved combinations of strength, formability and/or corrosion resistance. There is also disclosed a composite matrix whose metal phase consists essentially of the aforementioned composition.