Abstract: A method for descaling stainless steel includes providing a descaling apparatus having wheels configured to propel a scale removing media against the sheet metal. The wheels are positioned In such a way that the scale removing media propelled from one wheel does not substantially interfere with the scale removing media propelled from another wheel. The scale removing media propelled from each wheel extends across substantially an entire width of the length of the sheet metal, and the wheels are positioned adjacent opposite side edges defining the width of the sheet metal with the sheet metal centered between the wheels. In accordance with the method, a user is induced to install at least one of the descaling apparatuses in a push/pull sheet metal processing line and process stainless steel sheet metal in the line to substantially remove all scale from the surfaces of the stainless steel strip using the descaling apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting aluminum uses a dense metal salt of Rubidium, Cesium, or Strontium. The salt is melted by a stinger and then superheated by AC applied to electrodes immersed in the salt. Aluminum in contact with the salt melts and floats on the salt. In continuous scrap melting, inflows and outflows of aluminum are comparable and may be shielded by inert gas. The superheated salt may be purified and may be heated in a separate reservoir and pumped to and from another reservoir containing salt and/or metal. The salt may be used to supplement the heating of an existing furnace.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of recovering valuable metal from scrap containing conductive oxide including the steps of using an insoluble electrode as either an anode or a cathode, using a scrap containing conductive oxide as the counter cathode or anode, performing electrolysis while periodically inverting the polarity, and recovering the scrap as hydroxide. With the foregoing method of recovering valuable metal from scrap containing conductive oxide, oxide system scrap is conductive oxide and a substance that can be reduced to metal or suboxide with hydrogen. This method enables the efficient recovery of valuable metal from sputtering target scrap containing conductive oxide or scrap such as mill ends of conductive oxide that arise during the production of such a sputtering target.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of recovering valuable metal from scrap containing conductive oxide including the steps of using scrap containing conductive oxide and performing electrolysis while periodically inverting the polarity, and recovering the scrap as hydroxide. With the foregoing method of recovering valuable metal from scrap containing conductive oxide, oxide system scrap is conductive oxide and a substance that can be reduced to metal or suboxide with hydrogen. This method enables to efficiently recover valuable metal from sputtering target scrap containing conductive oxide or scrap such as mill ends of conductive oxide that arise during the production of such a sputtering target.

Abstract: Provided is a method of recovering valuable metal from oxide system scrap including the steps of performing electrolysis using an insoluble electrode as an anode and an oxide system scrap as a cathode, and recovering the scrap of the cathode as metal or suboxide. Specifically, this method enables the efficient recovery of valuable metal from oxide system scrap of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) sputtering target or oxide system scrap such as mill ends that arise during the production of such a sputtering target.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for electrokinetic decontamination of a porous solid medium, which comprises: a) extracting the contaminating species present in the solid medium in an electrolyte appearing as an essentially inorganic gel, this extraction being obtained by applying an electric current between two electrodes positioned at the surface and/or in the interior of the solid medium, the contact of at least one of these electrodes with said solid medium being ensured by a layer of said gel, b) drying the gel containing the thereby extracted contaminating species until a dry residue is obtained which fractures, and c) removing the thereby obtained dry residue from said solid residue.

Abstract: A method for electrode renewal, for use in an electrolytic processing chamber for a liquid therein wherein the processing includes, for a pair of electrodes in the chamber, placing a positive voltage on one electrode in the chamber and placing a like negative voltage on another electrode in the chamber. It has been common practice to reverse the voltage between these electrodes in order to re-dissolve the buildup thereon. Now, the present inventor has observed that a voltage passing through or across an electrode will cause some minor cavitations on the electrode surface between the contact junctures of the voltage, and apparently the cavitations results in the buildup there-on detaching in bulk; which is much faster than the heretofore known re-dissolve processes of electrode renewal.

Abstract: Hexavalent chrome is extracted from a film on a workpiece which film contains hexavalent chrome and reduced by contacting the contacting workpiece with a liquid or fine particle reducing agent.

Abstract: A carrier configured for use in a lapping machine includes a body having a first opening for carrying a work piece during operation of the lapping machine. A device is arranged and disposed in the body. The device is configured to retain information readable by a reading device for identifying the body.

Abstract: A process for increasing the active surface area of at least one electrode having a surface comprising a group VIII metal in an electrochemical cell, which also comprises at least one balancing electrode and an aqueous electrolyte which comprises nitrate ions, which comprises applying a sweeping voltage across the electrodes at a rate of at least 0.2 V/s, the sweeping voltage being from a lower voltage which is between the voltage at which hydrogen evolution occurs and ?0.7 V to an upper voltage which is between ?0.2 V and +0.3 V, all of the above voltages being with reference to a standard calomel reference electrode (VSCE).

Abstract: A highly accurate, efficient, and non-mechanical method of removing material from the surface of a golf club head using the principles of electrolysis. The process generally includes positioning at least one electrode in close proximity to a portion of a rear surface of a striking plate, flowing a liquid containing an electrolyte between the rear surface portion and the electrode, and applying a low voltage between the rear surface portion and the electrode. The electrode has an overall negative charge and the golf club head has an overall positive charge, such that a pulsed high-density DC current passes between the electrode and the rear surface portion. This results in negatively charged electrolytes in the liquid attracting positively charged molecules of the rear surface portion, such that the designated amount of material from the rear surface portion is removed by electro-chemical oxidation and carried away by the liquid flow.

Abstract: A method of cleaning and polishing an alloy comprising at least one noble metal and at least one non-noble metal, the method including the steps of submerging said alloy in an electrolytic acidic bath comprising at least one chelating or complexing agent including sulfur, and applying a multiple pulse periodic reverse waveform, and articles cleaned and/or polished thereby.

Abstract: A method for removing solder and other debris from electrical contacts comprising: coupling a positive lead of a power source to the electrical contacts to be cleaned; coupling a negative lead of the power source to a collection plate; placing the electrical contacts and the collection plate in a electrolyte solution; and applying a bias voltage from the power supply to the leads causing the solder and other debris from the electrical contacts to be removed.

Abstract: A process for increasing the active surface area of at least one electrode having a surface comprising a group VIII metal in an electrochemical cell, which also comprises at least one balancing electrode and an aqueous electrolyte which comprises nitrate ions, which comprises applying a sweeping voltage across the electrodes at a rate of at least 0.2 V/s, the sweeping voltage being from a lower voltage which is between the voltage at which hydrogen evolution occurs and −0.7 V to an upper voltage which is between −0.2 V and +0.3 V, all of the above voltages being with reference to a standard calomel reference electrode (VSCE).

Abstract: A method for treating a metal comprises subjecting the metal to electrolysis in the presence of an electrolyte using alternating pulses of voltage and/or current, said alternating pulses being of opposite polarity, wherein if the electrolyte is an aqueous electrolyte it is an aqueous solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, alkali earth metal salts, aluminium salts and amnonium salts. The method is effective in improving the surface properties of the metal, such as hardness, friction and wear properties.

Abstract: A method of treating a sample in contact with an electrolyte is disclosed. A non-sinusoidal alternating current (AC) comprising repeated waveform cycles is passed between the sample and the electrolyte. A number of advantageous forms of non-sinusoidal AC are disclosed. The method may, for example, be used in cleaning surface oxide layers from stainless steel.

Abstract: A process for removing chloride ions from steel surfaces and measuring the amount present on the steel surface being tested employs a high frequency waveform alternating current treatment as a pre-measurement step to liberate the chloride ions into deionized water on the steel surface being tested. The conductivity of the water containing the chloride ions is measured in a conductivity cell mounted on the same steel surface being tested. Recovery of chloride ions originally present on the steel test surface (cathode) is 85-95% complete when a sine wave high frequency alternating current is used between the steel test surface (cathode) sealed below an insulating plastic box containing the deionized water and which plastic box contains a steel plate (anode) mounted within and immediately below the inside top of the plastic box conductivity cell. The conductivity of the water in the cell is measured by a conductivity meter after disconnecting the high frequency waveform alternating current.

Abstract: Method of electrolytically continuously treating a material of stainless steel at a current density of 0.1-3 A/cm2, wherein the material is passed through one or more electrolytic cells arranged in series. The cells contain an electrolyte selected from sulphuric acid, a salt thereof, phosphoric acid and nitric acid, and the material is passed through the electrolyte between electrodes arranged in series under the influence of a direct current with alternating polarity. The electrodes are arranged alternately anodic and cathodic and every electrode on one side of said material is matched by an electrode of the same polarity on an opposite side of the material, whereby an oxide surface layer with a thickness of at least 1 micrometer is removed from the material to produce a surface conditioning effect.

Abstract: A method of descaling titanium material including the steps of immersing titanium material having oxide scale on a surface thereof in a fused alkaline salt bath in accordance with needs; subjecting the titanium material to anodic electrolysis or alternate electrolysis in an electrolyte solution so as to dissolve the oxide scale; and subjecting the titanium material to acid pickling so as to remove remaining oxide scale or oxide film generated in the electrolysis.

Abstract: Process for electrolytic treatment of continuous running material in which the material runs through an electrolytic liquid and electric potential is applied to the material. In order to guarantee freedom from differential potential in the material to be treated in any form of electrolytic treatment, the differential potential in the treated material is measured after electrolytic treatment and at least the same degree of inverse compensating potential is applied to the material.

Abstract: A process and a system for removing scale from the surface of high-grade steel strip in installations for the production of pickled hot strip and cold strip. The twofold descaling process combines an electrolytic pickling process with and ultrasonic cleaning of the strip surface.

Abstract: A process for treating the surface of material composed of high-grade steel, particularly strip-shaped material, wherein the material is treated with a pickling solution in a least one container and is subsequently rinsed. The solution used as the pickling solution contains a hydrochloric acid as the only acid and the material to be treated is subjected in at least one container to a least one spray treatment with the pickling solution containing the hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of annealed and non-annealed hot strip of stainless steel. First, the hot strip is stretched, bent and straightened to break a scale which has grown on the hot strip. Then, a electrolytic pickling is performed in an electrolyte with multiple alternating anodically-connected and cathodically-connected strip polarization. Directly following thereafter, pickling once again takes place in the electrolyte with multiple anodically-connected electrodes arranged directly behind one another and corresponding cathodic strip polarization, followed by anodic strip polarization produced by means of a cathodically-connected electrode. To further remove any scale remaining on the surface of the hot strip, the hot strip is subject to high-pressure fluid spraying or brush aggregates. Renewed electrolytic pickling in performed with at least one electrolyte with multiple exclusively cathodically-connected electrodes and anodic strip polarization.

Abstract: To remove films, such as oxides and lubricants, from a metal substrate, mechanical or thermal stress is first applied to the films so as to rupture the film to the substrate. The substrate is then moved through an electrolysis cell having one or more electrode elements of one electrical polarity spaced from the moving substrate defining another electrode element with the opposite polarity. An electrical signal is applied to the electrodes, and the electrical signal flows down to the metal substrate, resulting in an etching or pitting of the surface of the metal substrate. Following the electrolysis cell, the moving substrate is immersed in a cavitation fluid. Energy, either sonic or ultrasonic, is generated and focused onto the moving substrate so that cavitation bubbles are formed in the pitted portions of the metal substrate beneath the film.

Abstract: A method for minimizing localized corrosion of fluid containers that occurs as a consequence of most non-chemical procedures for removing scale deposits is described. It counteracts the unavoidable side-effect of the lowering of the local pH in the vicinity of the bubbles of CO.sub.2 that are generated during an electromagnetically-induced controlled precipitation procedure. The method is a simple and facile procedure for curbing the localized corrosion occurring as a result of most non-chemical procedures for removing scales. The method is desirably performed by an induction coil wrapped around a fluid container such as a pipe encrusted with scale through which hard water is flowing. A pulsing electrical current is successively applied through the coil and halted, preferably for 3 to 10 minutes each. When the current is applied, a transitory induced magnetic field is generated in the solution, and scale encrusted on the fluid container dissolves in the solution.

Abstract: Metal hydrides are activated by an electrochemical procedure. In this procedure, a bulk sample of the corresponding metal is immersed in an aqueous electrolyte and contacted by a cathode. Current passed through the aqueous electrolyte causes electrolysis of the water and a concomitant reaction with the formation of metal hydride. As a result, the metal hydride is fractured and smaller particles result. Additionally, the resulting metal hydride has a substantial amount of absorbed hydrogen. A novel plating method, taking advantage of the reducing power of hydrogen absorbed in a metal hydride, is useful to encapsulate such metal hydride with a variety of metals. Therefore, such hydrides are uniformly coated by using plating solutions without the standard reducing agent and stabilizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating a ceramic body to provide a wettable surface on the ceramic body. According to the present invention, a ceramic body is immersed in an alkaline hydroxide solution. The ceramic body is connected to form the anode and a suitable metal is connected to form the cathode of an electrolytic cell. A difference in electrical potential is imposed across the electrolytic cell which is sufficient to remove portions of the ceramic body to provide a pitted surface on the ceramic body which is wettable.

Abstract: Methods for reversibly associating a substrate compound and a solid support are described. In general, the methods feature the use of selectively chargeable moieties. Apparatus for use with the methods of the invention is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of measuring, adjusting and uniformalizing a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire, a method of cleaning an electric wire, a method of manufacturing a metal-covered electric wire, an apparatus for measuring a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire, and an apparatus for electropolishing a metal-covered electric wire.Electric resistance values of first and second materials are previously stored respectively so that a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire is calculated on the basis of the as-stored values and an actually measured electric resistance value of the metal-covered electric wire. Measurement and uniformalization of a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire and cleaning of an electric wire are carried out by dissolving surface layer parts of the electric wires by electropolishing.