Abstract: A stainless steel suspension component such as a mount plate is chemically activated by exposure to an activating solution. Gold is then spot plated onto the mount plate in the activated area using an elastomeric mask that is clamped over the mount plate. A component may then be bonded to the gold bond pads. The component may include a PZT microactuator bonded to the gold bond pads using a conductive adhesive such as silver epoxy. The gold acts as an interface metal that provides to a low resistance and environmentally robust ground path for the microactuator.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method of surface alloying stainless steel, In one embodiment, the method includes providing a stainless steel surface having an initial amount of iron and an initial amount of chromium; and preferentially removing iron from the stainless steel surface to obtain a surface having an amount of iron less than the initial amount of iron and an amount of chromium greater than the initial amount of chromium. Another aspect of the invention is a unitary stainless steel article.

Abstract: The process of forming a partial gold-plating pattern on a stainless substrate includes a first plating step, a second plating step, and a stripping step. In the first plating step, pretreatment is applied to a stainless substrate including opposite main planes and a processing site formed of a plane different from the main planes, after which a first gold-plating layer is formed all over the surface of the stainless substrate using a hydrochloric acid plating solution. In the second plating step, mask plating is used to form a second gold-plating layer on the first gold-plating layer that covers the processing site in a desired pattern, and in the stripping step, a portion of the first gold-plating layer in an area where there is none of the second gold-plating layer is stripped off using an alkaline stripping solution.

Abstract: A method includes (a) contacting at least a portion of a substrate material with a solution comprising a source of copper, wherein the solution is essentially free of a source of a group IIIB metal and a source of a group IVB metal; and (b) after step (a), contacting at least a portion of the substrate with an electrodepositable coating composition comprising (i) a film-forming resin and (ii) a source of yttrium.

Abstract: The method of surface treatment, as applied onto a metal base material, of the present invention includes a reduction treatment step of reduction-treating the oxide film formed on the metal base material and an oxidation treatment step of oxidation-treating the oxide film having been subjected to the reduction treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for activation of a cathode comprising at least a cathode substrate wherein the cathode is cleaned by means of an acid, the cleaned cathode is coated with at least one electrocatalytic coating solution, drying the coated cathode until it is at least substantially dry, and thereafter contacting the cathode with a solvent redissolving precipitated electrocatalytic salts or acids formed on the cathode, originating from the electrocatalytic solution, to form dissolved electrocatalytic metal ions on the cathode surface, so that said electrocatalytic metal ions can precipitate as metals on the cathode. The invention also comprises a cathode obtainable by the method and the use of an activated cathode in an electrolytic cell for producing chlorine and alkali hydroxide.

Abstract: Medical devices that include oxidizable portions can be plated after a two step activation process that includes successive applications of two aqueous solutions of ammonium bifluoride. Once plated, such materials can be soldered using conventional solders and fluxes. Medical devices can be assembled by soldering together plated materials. Oxidizable materials can be plated with radiopaque materials to yield medical devices that are more visible to fluoroscopy.

Abstract: Disclosed herewithin is an apparatus for fabricating a stent which involves processing a tubular member whereby no connection points to join the edges of a flat pattern are necessary. The process includes the steps of: a) preparing the surface of a tubular member, b) coating the outside surface of the tubular member with a photo-sensitive resist material, c) placing the tubular member in an apparatus designed to simultaneously rotate the tubular member while passing a specially configured photographic frame negative between a light source and the tubular member, d) exposing the tubular member to a photoresist developer, e) rinsing the excess developer and uncured resist from the exposed tubular member, f) sealing the inner lumen of the tubular member, and g) treating the tubular member with a chemical or electro-chemical process to remove uncovered metal. By modifying the photographic negative, this process can be employed to fabricate a virtually unlimited number of stent designs and configurations.

Abstract: A composite for use in forming a multi-layer printed circuit board, comprised of an INVAR® sheet having a thickness of between 0.5 mil and 5 mil; and a layer of electrodeposited copper on at least one side thereof. The copper has a thickness of between 1&mgr; and 50&mgr;, wherein the composite has a thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) of about 2.8 to 6.0 ppm at temperatures between 0° F. and 200° F.

Abstract: An electrode (1) having an active surface for contacting an electrolyte. The electrode (1) comprises first and second metallic materials (2, 3) arranged to provide a number of first metallic material to second metallic material interfaces at the active surface. The invention also relates to a method of making such an electrode (1) and to an electrolysis cell provided with such an electrode (1).

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing the adhesion of organic polymer coatings to electrolytically passivated (CDC) tin-plated steel strip. The method includes applying a solution comprising 0.1 to 7 percent of an adhesion promoter to the electrolytically tin-plated strip during the processing of the strip on an electrolytic tin-plating line. The adhesion promoter may be at least one selected from the group consisting of: where n is within a range of from 4 to 99; (b) C16H33+N(CH3) 3 M where M is member of the halogen group; and (c) Rn—Si—(X)4−n where R is a non-hydrolyzable organic radical selected from the group consisting of glycol, epoxy, amine, diamine or mercapto groups, and mixtures thereof, containing from 3 to 10 carbon atoms; the number n is an integer from 1 to 3; and X is a hydrolyzable group selected from the group consisting of Cl—, OCH3, OCH2CH5, OOCCH3, OCH2OCH3, amine, diamine, triamine, acyloxy and alkoxysilanes, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising a metal layer, a first transparent conductive layer, a semiconductor layer, and a second transparent conductive layer sequentially stacked on a substrate comprising iron, comprises the steps of forming the metal layer by electro-deposition of the metal layer from a solution and forming the first transparent conductive layer by electro-deposition of the first transparent conductive layer from a solution.

Abstract: A coated article comprising a stainless steel base having an etched surface and having on the etched surface a coated layer. The coating layer may comprise a fluororesin and can be provided: after sensitizing the stainless steel base through heating, treating with an acid, subjecting to etching, and subjecting to a solution treatment; after immersing in an aqueous acid solution or an aqueous ferric chloride solution to cause the base to be dissolved to such an extent that the gloss of the surface disappears; after uniformly abrading the surface of the base through buffing or blasting to the weight corresponding to a thickness of 1.0 .mu.m or more of the base, immersing in an aqueous acid solution or an aqueous ferric chloride solution to cause the base to be dissolved to such an extent that the gloss of the surface disappears, and subjecting to etching; or after subjecting to electrolytic etching at 15.degree. C. or less.

Abstract: A method of producing a weapon barrel (1) having a wear-resistant inner coating (10) applied by an electrolytic method. To enable the application of a relatively thick protective layer to the inner wall or surface of a large-caliber weapon barrel (1), in particular, in the regions of thermally high stress and in a simple manner, a weapon barrel (1) prefabricated true to caliber is provided, a recess (7) is formed in the region of the chamber (2) and of the adjoining caliber region (3) to be coated with the protective layer (10) by electrochemical stripping (electrolytic polishing), and the recess (7) is subsequently refilled electrolytically with the protective layer (10). The same center electrode (4, 12) preferably is used for the electrolytic polishing process and for the electrolytic process for applying (plating) the protective coating or layer (10).

Abstract: This sheet metal comprises a substrate (12) made of stainless steel containing more than 16% of chromium in its weight composition, coated with a metal layer (16) containing chiefly tin. Between the metal layer (16) and the substrate (12) the sheet metal comprises a layer (14) of an intermetallic compound containing at least iron, chromium and tin. To manufacture this sheet metal, a layer (16) of metallic coating containing chiefly tin is deposited by an electrolytic route on a sheet (12) made of stainless steel. The coated sheet metal is heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the coating layer (16) to permit the formation of the intermetallic compound. The heating is maintained for a sufficient period for the surface of the coating layer (16) to have a matt appearance.