Abstract: An aluminum alloy component has a surface region alloyed with an anodic metal to increase corrosion resistance in aqueous environments with high salinity or sulfur content.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided including at least one aluminum alloy tube (12) and a plurality of aluminum fins (26) arrayed on the aluminum alloy tube. The aluminum tube may be supported by tube sheets (24) made of aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A corrosion sensor system includes a substrate with a hydrophilic coating and a sensor array attached to the substrate, the sensor array manufactured of a noble metal. The sensor system operates to determine a time of wetness measurement based upon an electrolyte conductivity and a temperature.

Abstract: A heat-transfer apparatus includes a heat-producing body, a heat sink adjacent to the heat-producing body, and a thermal interface material that includes a plurality of heat-transfer particles bridging the heat-producing body and the heat sink.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for electroplating a selected surface area of a component with a crushable zinc alloy, the method comprising utilizing a relatively low current density in an alkaline solution during the electroplating process to provide a crushable coating of said zinc alloy on said selected surface area.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for electroplating a selected surface area of a component with a crushable zinc alloy, the method comprising utilising a relatively low current density in an alkaline solution during the electroplating process to provide a crushable coating of said zinc alloy on said selected surface area.

Abstract: An article comprised of dissimilar metals in contact with one another wherein the exposed surface of the more noble metal is coated with a metal more galvanically compatible with the less noble metal. The article exhibits increased resistance to galvanic corrosion.

Abstract: An article having a first member formed from a first metal and a second member connected with the first member at a contact area. The second member is formed from a second metal having high reduction reaction kinetics and galvanic corrosion driving force relative the first member, wherein the second metal is more noble than the first metal. A material for substantially eliminating the galvanic corrosion problem by reducing the reduction reaction kinetics of the second metal in the presence of an electrolyte is provided between the first and second metals. In a preferred embodiment, the article is a heat exchanger wherein the first member is a fin collar and the second member a tube and the material for reducing is a coating on the tube has low reduction reaction kinetics relative to copper for reducing corrosion activities between the tube and fin collar.

Abstract: An article having a first member formed from a first metal and a second member connected with the first member at a contact area. The second member is formed from a second metal having high reduction reaction kinetics and galvanic corrosion driving force relative the first member, wherein the second metal is more noble than the first metal. A material for substantially eliminating the galvanic corrosion problem by reducing the reduction reaction kinetics of the second metal in the presence of an electrolyte is provided between the first and second metals. In a preferred embodiment, the article is a heat exchanger wherein the first member is a fin collar and the second member a tube and the material for reducing is a coating on the tube has low reduction reaction kinetics relative to copper for reducing corrosion activities between the tube and fin collar.

Abstract: A graded metal hardware component for an electrochemical cell is shown for mechanically supporting electrochemical cell structures and defining fluid cavities and fluid passages in a cell employing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The graded metal hardware component includes a substrate such as stainless steel, a surface layer made of a precious metal such as gold, and a graded boundary layer adjacent to and between the substrate and surface layer, wherein the graded boundary layer is an interdiffusion of the substrate and surface layer so that the graded boundary layer is between 0.5 wt. %-5.0 wt. % of the material making up the substrate, and between 99.5 wt. %-95.0 wt. % of the material making up the surface layer, and the graded boundary layer has a thickness of between 10%-90% of a shortest distance between the substrate and an exterior surface of the surface layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing refrigerant of one type for contamination by refrigerant of another type as would be the case if an air conditioning or refrigeration system charged with a non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant received a replenishment charge of a chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant. A sample of the suspected refrigerant mix is exposed to a reagent that will decompose the contaminant refrigerant but not the refrigerant that is proper for the system. The sample is then tested for a product of the decomposition. If the product is present, then one can conclude that the contaminant refrigerant is present.