Metal Coating Patents (Class 427/436)
  • Patent number: 7128947
    Abstract: A pre-treating method for plating a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface includes the steps of: cleaning a Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with ultrasonic energy; heat-degreasing the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with a basic solution for removing accumulated grease; deterging the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with an acid solution for eliminating corrosion produced in previous high temperature conditions; electrolyzing the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with a basic solution for removing an oxidative layer; and neutralizing the basic solution remained on the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with an acid solution; and plating the Fe—Mn—Al alloy surface with corrosion-resisting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Hou
  • Patent number: 7101469
    Abstract: A metal piece having an organic coating with improved corrosion resistance and adhesion is described which comprises a zinc or zinc alloy plated metal piece having on its surface, a chromate film deposited from an aqueous acidic chromium solution comprising trivalent chromium as substantially the only chromium ion present, and a cathodic electrocoated siccative organic coating on the chromate film. A process for obtaining such coated metal pieces also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: John R. Kochilla, Morgan Bishop, William B. Staples
  • Patent number: 7078076
    Abstract: Coatings containing particulate metal alloy are disclosed. The coatings provide corrosion protection to a substrate, such as a metal substrate. The coatings contain zinc-metal-containing alloy in flake form, most particularly an alloy flake of zinc and aluminum. The coating can be from compositions that are water-based or solvent-based. The compositions for providing the coating may also contain a substituent such as a water-reducible organofunctional silane, or a hexavalent-chromium-providing substance, or a titanate polymer, or a silica substance constituent. The coating may desirably be topcoated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Metal Coatings International Inc.
    Inventors: Etienne Georges Maze, Gilbert Louis Lelong, Terry E. Dorsett, Donald J. Guhde, Toshio Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7074497
    Abstract: A coated steel sheet having a coated layer on surfaces of a steel sheet of a composition containing not less than 0.1 mass % and under 3 mass % of Al, wherein a following condition A or B is met: A: An AlN precipitate layer exists on a matrix side near an interface between said steel sheet and said coated layer B: Oxide of Al exists in said matrix right under said surfaces of said steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Suzuki, Kazuaki Kyono
  • Patent number: 7052740
    Abstract: The subject invention includes a plating apparatus (10) having an electrically conductive rack (12) and a frame assembly (14). The frame assembly (14) includes a rod (24) and series of support structures (26). A number of removable (34) and fixed (32) bars are attached to the support structures (26) such that a strand of interconnected workpieces (18) are wrapped over the bars (32, 34) to define a revolution of the interconnected workpieces (18). The plating apparatus (10) and frame assembly (14) are characterized by a series of spacers (38) mounted along the removable bars (34) for separating adjacent revolutions of the interconnected workpieces (18) such that the workpieces (18) can be effectively coated with the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Apollo Plating, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd McNulty
  • Patent number: 6994754
    Abstract: A process for the continuous dip-coating of a metal strip (1) in a tank (11) containing a liquid metal bath (12), in which process the metal strip (1) is made to run continuously through a duct (13), the lower part of which is immersed in the liquid metal bath (12), in order to define with the surface of the bath a liquid seal (14). In the region where the strip (1) leaves the liquid metal bath (12), the liquid metal is isolated from the surface of the bath in an isolating enclosure (20), and the metal oxide particles and intermetallic compound particles are recovered by the liquid metal flowing from this region into the enclosure (20), and the particles are extracted from this enclosure (20). Also, a plant for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventors: Didier Dauchelle, Hugues Baudin, Patrice Lucas, Laurent Gacher, Yves Prigent
  • Patent number: 6982012
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high strength steel sheet containing, in mass %, C: 0.02 to 0.04%, Si: at most 0.4%, Mn: 0.5-3.0%, P: at most 0.15%, S: at most 0.03%, Al: at most 0.50%, N: at most 0.01%, and Mo: 0.01-1.0%. The method includes performing hot rough rolling either directly or after heating to a temperature of at most 1300° C., commencing hot finish rolling either directly or after reheating or holding, completing finish rolling at a temperature of at least 780° C., performing coiling after cooling to a temperature of 750° C. or below at an average cooling rate of at least 3° C./second, heating to an annealing temperature of at least 700° C. and then cooling to a temperature of 600° C. or below at an average cooling rate of at least 3° C./second, then holding in a temperature range of 450-600° C. for at least 10 seconds, and performing hot dip galvanizing after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Nomura, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6939586
    Abstract: A process for the continuous dip-coating of a metal strip (1) in a tank (11) containing a liquid metal bath (12), in which process the metal strip (1) is made to run continuously through a duct (13), the lower part (13a) of which is immersed in the liquid metal bath (12) in order to define with the surface of the bath a liquid seal (14). A natural flow of the liquid metal from the surface of the liquid seal (14) is set up in two overflow compartments (25, 29) made in the duct (13) and each having an internal wall which extends the duct (13) in its lower part, and the level of liquid metal in the compartments is maintained at a level below the surface of the liquid seal (14). A plant for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Didier Dauchelle, Hugues Baudin, Patrice Lucas, Laurent Gacher, Yves Prigent
  • Patent number: 6936307
    Abstract: A process for the continuous dip-coating of a metal strip (1) in a tank (11) containing a liquid metal bath (12), in which process the metal strip (1) is made to run continuously through a duct (13), the lower part (13a) of which is immersed in the liquid metal bath (12) in order to define with the surface of the said bath a seal (14). A natural flow of the liquid metal from the surface of the liquid seal is set up in an overflow compartment (25) made in the duct (13) and having an internal wall which extends the duct (13) in its lower part, and the level of liquid metal in the compartment (25) is maintained at a level below the surface of the liquid seal (14). Also, a plant for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Didier Dauchelle, Hugues Baudin, Patrice Lucas, Laurent Gacher, Yves Prigent
  • Patent number: 6932897
    Abstract: A method for plating a titanium-containing metal, comprising the steps of: (a) surface treating the titanium-containing metal in a solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solvent and hydrochloric acid for a period of time sufficient to activate the surface of the titanium-containing metal; (b) plating the surface of the surface treated titanium-containing metal with a metallic coating in an electrolyte bath; and (c) non-oxidatively heat treating the plated titanium-containing metal for a period of time sufficient to cause diffusion bonding between the metallic coating and the titanium-containing metal. The present invention also provides parts made in accordance with the methods disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Com Dev Ltd.
    Inventors: Florin Burca, John Darmon
  • Patent number: 6911230
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of depositing electroless gold layers on a metal substrate using a catalytic palladium deposit. Such electroless gold layers have increased adhesion as compared to conventional electroless gold deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Miriana Kanzler
  • Patent number: 6902829
    Abstract: A high strength dual phase cold rolled steel having controlled amounts of carbon, manganese, and molybdenum is used as a starting material in a hot-dip zinc coating process to manufacture a high strength dual phase cold rolled steel having a conventional galvanized or galvannealed coating applied to at least one surface thereof, the zinc coated steel product having a uniform coating of zinc in spite of the high manganese content of the steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: ISG Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Rajendra Pradhan, C. Ramadeva Shastry
  • Patent number: 6899925
    Abstract: An improved protective coating, for parking meters or other equipment that is subject to environmental deterioration and/or vandalism, having thereon at least a three layer coating of a composite thickness sufficiently thick to avoid pinholes and sufficiently thin to avoid crazing and cracking due to variations in the ambient environment. The coating has a conventional lower layer of zinc on or proximate to the equipment surface (in the alternative the substrate may be a zinc part); a second layer of a thermosetting polymer that has been applied by a powder coating electrostatic method, and a third, top, coating of an epoxysiloxane polymer. The total coating thickness should preferably not exceed about 6 mils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Scott J. Lewin
  • Patent number: 6899926
    Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy coating which can be advantageously applied to members for high temperature apparatuses so as to prolong the service life of the members. The alloy coating comprises an alloy. This alloy comprises: at least one member, as a base, selected from the group consisting of Re, Ir, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W; and at least one alloying element for imparting corrosion resistance. A method for forming the alloy coating, and a member for high temperature apparatuses, to which the alloy coating has been applied, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignees: EBARA Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Narita, Shigenari Hayashi, Hiroshi Yakuwa, Manabu Noguchi, Matsuho Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 6899920
    Abstract: A method for the rapid coating of a wire in a batch coating installation, wherein the wire is wound onto a product carrier and is then passed through a coating installation in batch mode in the manner which is customary for the coating of a wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Meyer
  • Patent number: 6878411
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bath for the electrochemical deposition of high-gloss white rhodium coatings and a whitening agent for the same. The brightness or degree of whiteness of the deposited coatings is significantly increased by means of compounds having the formula R—SOm—H, wherein m is the numbers 3 or 4 and R is a straight-chain or branched chain or cyclic alkyl group having up to 20 C atoms, as a whitening agent. The thickness of the coating that can be deposited without a bloom is also significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Umicore Galvanotechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Manz
  • Patent number: 6869637
    Abstract: Known methods of improving the solderability of copper surfaces on printed circuit boards present the disadvantage that outer layers of an irregular thickness are formed at the metal surfaces, that these layers are very expensive or that the constituents used in manufacturing them are harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the metal surfaces are to be suited to form bond connections as well as electrical contacts. To overcome these problems there are disclosed a bath and a method of electroless plating of silver by way of charge exchange reaction on surfaces of metals that are less noble than silver, more particularly on copper, that contain at least one silver halide complex and not containing any reducing agent for Ag+ ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Carl Hutchinson, Hartmut Mahlkow, Christian Sparing
  • Patent number: 6846401
    Abstract: A method for applying a metal layer onto at least one surface of an aluminium or aluminium alloy workpiece, including the steps of pretreating the surface and applying the metal layer by plating, wherein the pretreating step includes a non-electrolytic treatment by immersion of the workpiece in a single acidic solution, preferably a sulphuric acid solution, having a temperature of at most 100° C. A brazed assembly comprising at least one component of an aluminium workpiece made by this method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Corus Aluminium Walzprodukte GmbH
    Inventors: Jacques Hubert Olga Joseph Wijenberg, Joop Nicolaas Mooij
  • Patent number: 6837980
    Abstract: Aqueous electroplating solutions and methods are provided for the codeposition of zinc and chromium. The solutions include effective amounts of zinc, chromium, and hydroxyl ions. The solutions further include an effective amount of one or more ions of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, or a combination thereof other than sodium and potassium, to in major part balance the hydroxyl ions. A preferred alkali metal is rubidium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Szuchain F. Chen, Leonard R. Howell
  • Publication number: 20040258847
    Abstract: A method to determine and monitor concentrations of inert metal plating components in metal plating baths. An inert indictor is included in the bath composition and the concentration of the inert indictor is monitored during plating. The change in the concentration of the inert indicator is used to determine the change in the concentration of inert bath components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Martin W. Bayes, Raymund W. M. Kwok
  • Publication number: 20040253382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sputter target and more particularly to a zinc sputter target. The target comprises a target holder having an outer surface and a target material formed on said outer surface. The target material has a relative density higher than 92% of the theoretical density of the metal or metal alloy. Furthermore the invention relates to a process for the manufacturing of a sputter target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Wilmert De Bosscher, Hilde Delrue, Johan Vanderstraeten
  • Patent number: 6828037
    Abstract: The invention provides a hydrogen permeable structure, which can effectively prevent peeling-off of a hydrogen permeable film and hence has higher durability, and a method of manufacturing the structure. The hydrogen permeable structure has a hydrogen permeable film formed on the surface of or inside a porous support, having a thickness of not more than 2 &mgr;m, and containing palladium (Pd). The hydrogen permeable film is formed on the surface of or inside the porous support by supplying a Pd-containing solution and a reducing feed material from opposite sides of the porous support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Uemura, Kentaro Yoshida, Nobuyuki Okuda, Takeshi Hikata
  • Patent number: 6821323
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for non-galvanic tin plating of copper and copper alloys by precipitation of tin from methanesulphonic acid and tin-containing electrolytes, containing a complexing agent. In describing a process by which a durable tin layer which can be soldered is a created, which, at the same time, prevents liberation of the base material, this invention discloses that the electrolytes have at least one foreign metal added to form a diffusion barrier in the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Enthone Inc.
    Inventors: Jane Bell, Joachim Heyer, Jürgen Hupe, Ingo Kalker, Marlies Kleinfeld
  • Patent number: 6811827
    Abstract: In a process of hot dip coating of metal strips, in particular, of a hot rolled steel strip, in which the metal strip is transformed into a continuous strip in an unwinding station with an adjoining welding machine, and then the continuous strip is subjected to a downstream modifying process including primary and secondary prickling and, in the final treatment step; in the hot dip coating section, guiding the continuous strip through a melt bath, a variable coating process with reduced costs becomes possible when the continuous strip, in a first treatment step, is directly transported into a pickling installation. In a suitable installation for effecting the process, the primary pickling installation is located in the entry section which is separated from the hot dip coating section by an entry accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Rolf Brisberger, Peter de Kock
  • Patent number: 6811819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for depositing zincate coatings on aluminum and aluminum alloys comprising applying an immersion zincate coating on an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrates, optionally followed by plating the zincate coated aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate using an electroless or electrolytic metal plating solution. The present invention also relates to an improved aqueous alkaline zincate solution comprising hydroxide ions, zinc ions, nickel ions and/or cobalt iron ions, copper ions, and at least one inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, or both nitrogen and sulfur atoms provided said nitrogen atoms are not present in an aliphatic amine or hydroxylamine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Nayan H. Joshi, Maulik D. Mehta
  • Patent number: 6800327
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for coating metal strip, particularly cold-rolled steel strip, with a coating metal which is in the molten state. The metal strip is heated and annealed in a heating furnace and subsequently the required strip temperature and surface properties are adjusted in a cooling zone. The strip is conducted through a coating container and, following the coating container in strip pulling direction, the coating metal thickness and the solidification process are controlled by a gas-operated stripping device. The operating gas for the stripping device is preheated in a partial area of the cooling zone of the heating furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Bechem, Holger Behrens, Rolf Brisberger
  • Patent number: 6797410
    Abstract: A steel composition, in which, Si content is regulated to a given range and Nb and Cu or Ni, Mo are compositively added, and a recrystallization annealing is carried out to form an internal oxide layer just beneath a surface of a steel sheet and a surface oxide simultaneously formed on the surface of the steel sheet is removed by pickling. As a result, the formation of oxides of Si, Mn and the like is considerably decreased on the surface of the steel sheet in a subsequent heating before plating because the above internal oxide layer acts as a diffusion barrier. Thus, there can be obtained high tensile strength hot-dipped steel sheets having a considerably excellent plating property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhide Ishii, Kazuaki Kyono, Chiaki Kato, Kazuo Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6790481
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant, copper-finned heat exchanger for a water heater is provided. The heat exchanger includes a conduit through which water runs, heat-transfer fins extending from the conduit and an anti-corrosive coating containing electroless nickel. The heat-transfer fins contain copper, and the coating is deposited directly onto at least one of the copper heat-transfer fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Bishop, Ming C. Kuo
  • Publication number: 20040156999
    Abstract: A composition and method for providing a blank chromate conversion coating is provided. The composition is substantially free of hexavolent chromium and provides a black finish, on zinc or zinc alloy coatings. The composition includes trivalent chromium ions, phosphorous anions, anions selected from the group consisting of sulfate ions, nitrate ions and combinations thereof, at least one of a transition metal or metalloid from Groups III, IVa, Va or VIII, and an organic chelate selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Pavco, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford F. Biddulph, Leonard L. Diaddario, Michael Marzano, Antonino Oriti
  • Patent number: 6773760
    Abstract: A method for metallizing a surface of substrates is disclosed. Particularly, nonhomogeneous heating deposition occurs by setting the surface and the heater in an electroless plating reactor at different temperatures. Moreover, an adjustable gap is defined between the substrate being metalized and heating source board. The deposit can securely adhere to the surface of the substrate for gap creates and activates metallic nanoparticles, which possess higher activity and bonding strength to the surface. Accordingly, metallization of the surface of the substrate can be easily achieved without using precious metals and carcinogenic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventors: Yuh Sung, Ming-Der Ger, Yu-Hsien Chou, Bing-Joe Hwang
  • Patent number: 6773757
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the solderability of a metallic surface is disclosed where the metallic surface is plated with an immersion or electroless silver plate prior to soldering, after which immersion silver plate is treated with an alkaline polymer coating comprising aqueous vinyl polymers, aqueous acrylic polymers, anti-fungal agents and a benzotriazole or benzimidazole compound to produce a deposit that is resistant to electromigration and that provides an anti-tarnish and anti-corrosion coating on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventors: Ronald Redline, David Angelone, Steven A. Castaldi, Lenora M Toscano
  • Patent number: 6767392
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-cyanide displacement gold plating solution with which even an electroless nickel-boron plated or electrolytic nickel plated substrate can be subjected to displacement gold plating with good adhesion properties and high solderability. The displacement gold plating solution in accordance with the present invention contains 0.01 to 1.0 g/L (expressed in terms of gold concentration) of sodium gold sulfite or ethylene diamine complex of sodium gold sulfite, 10 to 100 g/L of sulfite, 5 to 50 g/L of organic carboxylic acid or salt thereof, and 5 to 50 g/L of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or salt thereof, and has a pH value in the weak acid range of 4.5 to 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Electroplating Engineers of Japan Limited
    Inventors: Katsunori Hayashi, Yoshimasa Hirose
  • Patent number: 6761935
    Abstract: A method of producing a metallic coating on an object emerging from a bath of molten metal. The object can for example be a wire or a plate. A magnetic field is created near the point of exit of the object. The object leaves the bath of molten metal via an exit channel containing a meniscus of the bath of molten metal. The thickness of the metallic coating is controlled as a function of the second derivative of the curve of the meniscus and of a capillary number Ca representing the ratio between the viscous forces of the molten metal and the forces of surface tension at the surface of the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Delot Process
    Inventors: Gérald Sanchez, José Delot
  • Patent number: 6761929
    Abstract: A method is provided for the preparation of metal/porous substrate composite membranes by flowing a solution of metal to be plated over a first surface of a porous substrate and concurrently applying a pressure of gas on a second surface of the porous substrate, such that the porous substrate separates the solution of metal from the gas, and the use of the resulting membrane for the production of highly purified hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventor: Ashok S. Damle
  • Publication number: 20040067314
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved aqueous alkaline zincate solution comprising hydroxide ions, zinc ions, nickel ions and/or cobalt iron ions, copper ions, and at least one inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, or both nitrogen and sulfur atoms provided said nitrogen atoms are not present in an aliphatic amine or hydroxylamine. The present invention also relates to methods for depositing zincate coatings on aluminum and aluminum alloys comprising applying an immersion zincate coating on an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrates, optionally followed by plating the zincate coated aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate using an electroless or electrolytic metal plating solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Nayan H. Joshi, Maulik D. Mehta
  • Patent number: 6713129
    Abstract: Gas wiping apparatus and method can reliably prevent edge overcoat and splash, and has face gas wiping nozzles extending widthwise of a strip material, a pair of baffle plates spaced from an edge of the strip material, an edge wiping nozzle disposed between baffle plates at its inner edge and adjacent the strip material edge, all with critical spacings relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Tanokuchi, Sachihiro Iida
  • Patent number: 6709711
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a corrosion-resistant and oxidization-resistant layer that is applied onto a component part, whereby the method can be simply and cost-beneficially implemented in fabrication-oriented terms and comprises the steps: a) producing a slip by mixing powder containing at least one of the elements Cr, Ni or Ce with a binding agent; b) applying the slip onto the component part; c) drying the slip at temperatures from room temperature through 300° C.; and d) alitizing the slip layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: MTU Motoren-und Turbinen-Union München GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wydra, Martin Thoma, Horst Pillhoefer
  • Patent number: 6709707
    Abstract: A process for chemical removal of organically-modified silicate (Ormosil) coatings from aluminum alloy substrates without degradation of the underlying metal. An Ormosil film is treated with a zincate solution. The zincate solution dissolves the Ormosil film and deposits a thin, easily-removed layer of zinc onto the aluminum alloy surface, which prevents base-activated dissolution of the underlying metal. The zinc layer may be removed using dilute phosphoric acid, leaving the surface of the aluminum alloy intact. Consequently, the sol-gel coating may be removed while the integrity of the aluminum alloy substrate is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Board of Regents For Oklahoma State University
    Inventors: Edward T. Knobbe, Olga Kachurina, Tammy L. Metroke
  • Patent number: 6706331
    Abstract: A method of producing a metal-coated steel strip includes the steps of forming a metal coating on a steel strip and conditioning the surface of the metal-coated steel strip by smoothing the surface of the strip. The method is characterised in that the conditioning step produces residual stress of no more than 100 MPa in the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: BHP Steel (JLA) Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Catherine Clancy, Ian Miles Robertson
  • Patent number: 6706329
    Abstract: A method for locally nickel-plating an aluminum alloy fin structure including placing the aluminum alloy fin structure on a sponge that is located at the bottom of a “zinc” tank containing a volume of zinc chemical solution for zinc plating; and thereafter rotating the aluminum alloy fin structure and immersing the rotated aluminum alloy fin structure in a volume of nickel chemical solution of a “nickel” tank to plate nickel onto the aluminum alloy fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventor: Ming-Ho Chien
  • Publication number: 20040043143
    Abstract: The specification discloses a mechanical deposition process for depositing a metal powder on a metal substrate to form a sacrificial coating therefor, wherein the metal powder is produced from a molecular alloy of zinc and aluminum, for instance by the atomization of a molten alloy of zinc and aluminum. The mechanical deposition process described herein is carried out in the presence of a ductile metal more noble than zinc, an activating anion containing a fluoride moiety, and either a fluoride-engendering acidic compound or a weak organic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas H. Rochester
  • Patent number: 6699592
    Abstract: The invention provides a galvannealed steel sheet which has an oxide layer having 10 nm or larger thickness on the plateau of the coating layer flattened by temper rolling. With the use of the galvannealed steel sheet, no powdering occurs during press-forming, and stable and excellent sliding performance is attained. By selecting the area percentage of the plateau of the flattened coating layer to a range from 20 to 80%, making the coating layer single layer of &dgr;1 phase, and letting &zgr; phase exist in the &dgr;1 phase, further improved sliding performance and anti-powdering property are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichiro Taira, Yoshiharu Sugimoto, Junichi Inagaki, Toru Imokawa, Shuji Nomura, Michitaka Sakurai, Masaaki Yamashita, Kaoru Sato, Masayasu Nagoshi, Akira Gamou, Yoichi Miyakawa, Shunsaku Node, Masahiro Iwabuchi
  • Patent number: 6692630
    Abstract: The invention provides a pretreatment process for electroplating aluminum parts or strip, in which the zincating solution is modified to improve the adhesion of the subsequent electroplate to the substrate. The aluminum part or strip, such as an aluminum coin blank or strip for coin blanks, is pretreated with an improved zincate solution which provides hydroxide ions in an amount in the range of 75-175 gpl, zinc ions in an amount in the range of 15-40 gpl, nickel ions in an amount in the range of 2-10 gpl and copper ions in an amount in the range of 1.5-5 gpl. The pretreatment process preferably includes a copper strike applied from a copper cyanide strike bath at a pH in the range of 8.5-11.0, using a current density in the range of 0.1-10 A/dm2. The pretreatment and electroplating steps are preferably conducted by barrel plating, in accordance with another aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Westaim Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Charles Morin, Angie Kathleen Molnar
  • Patent number: 6689489
    Abstract: A method of coating of steel products such as plate and sheet using an aluminum-zinc coating alloy includes modifying the coating bath with a particulate compound constituent in effective amounts to control the spangle facet size of the coated product, improve tension bend rust stain performance, and improve coated product paintability. Constituents include borides such as titanium boride and aluminum borides, carbides such as titanium carbide, and aluminides such as titanium aluminide. The method produces a coated steel product that does not require temper rolling for painting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ISG Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erin T. McDevitt
  • Publication number: 20040022957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for depositing a metal on a material. The process comprises the steps of: immersing the material in a deposition solution comprising the metal; inducing a material vibration in the deposition solution having a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of the material; inducing a solution vibration in the deposition solution in a direction non-parallel to the material vibration, said solution vibration having a frequency corresponding to the a resonance frequency of the deposition solution, whereby said metal is deposited onto the material. This process results in deposition of metal from the plating bath on the material in a controlled and substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: G Alan Thompson, Theresa M Anderson, David E. Marx
  • Patent number: 6676988
    Abstract: This invention relates to radioactively coated devices, preferably radioctively coated medical devices. These coated devices are characterized as having a low rate of leaching of the radioisotope from the surface of the coated device and a uniform radioactive coating, and are therefore suitable for use within biological systems. Methods for coating a device with a radioisotope comprising are also disclosed. One method comprises immersing the device within a solution containing a &ggr;, &bgr;+, &agr;, &bgr;− or &egr; (electron capture) emitting radioisotope, then exposing the immersed substrate to tuned vibrational cavitation to produce a coated substrate. A second method involves coating a substrate using electroless plating, and yet a third method involves the use of electroplating a radioisotope onto a substate of interest. With these methods, the coating procedures are followed by baking the coated substrate at a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: MDS (Canada) Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Chan, Stephen M. Oelsner, Thomas J. Simpson, Sonia Corrent
  • Patent number: 6677058
    Abstract: Degradation of the surface luster of a hot-dip Zn—Al—Mg plated steel sheet is inhibited by controlling the contact temperature between the plating layer and a water stream in a water cooling step after plating layer solidification, thereby suitably controlling the strip temperature during contact with the water stream, and further by incorporating a small amount of a suitable readily oxidizing element in the plating bath to stabilize the oxidation state of the plating surface layer Al and Mg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Komatsu, Takao Tsujimura, Atsushi Andoh
  • Patent number: 6669997
    Abstract: A process for coating an object formed of magnesium or a magnesium alloy comprising the steps of: immersion coating the object in a sonicated bath to form an undercoat and topcoating the object to form a topcoat. When desirable to protect against topcoat failure, the undercoat may be equally noble or more noble than the topcoat. If topcoat failure is not a concern, the nobility of the topcoat relative to the undercoat need not be considered. The process promotes uniform coating of a magnesium and its alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Ben Li Luan, Joy Elizabeth Gray
  • Patent number: 6656520
    Abstract: A non-carbon, metal-based, high temperature resistant, electrically conductive and electrochemically active anode of a cell for the production of aluminum has a metal-based substrate to which an adherent coating is applied prior to its immersion into the electrolyte and start up of the electrolysis by connection to the positive current supply. The coating is obtainable from one or more layers applied from: a liquid solution, a dispersion in a liquid or a paste, a suspension in a liquid or a paste, and a pasty or non-pasty slurry, and combinations thereof with or without one or more further applied layers, with or without heat treatment between two consecutively applied layers when at least two layers are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Moltech Invent-SA
    Inventor: Vittorio de Nora
  • Patent number: 6649561
    Abstract: A titania-coated honeycomb catalyst matrix is provided for the ultraviolet-photocatalytic oxidation of organic pollutants in a flowing fluid. A honeycomb-shaped skeletal structure (12) has a thin, lightweight substrate (18) of metal or ceramic, typically an aluminum alloy, and a surface coating (20) of photocatalyst, such as titania. The photocatalyst (20) is bonded to the substrate (18) via a thin oxide layer (18′) on the substrate. The oxide layer (18′) may be grown on the substrate. The photocatalyst coating (20) is made by mixing (30) titania powder in a TiO2 sol-gel to form a titania slurry. The substrate with oxide layer is coated (30) with the titania slurry and then heat treated (31). The photocatalyst coating (20) is typically applied to substrate sheets (40, 60, 62) preformed for assembly into a honeycomb-shaped skeletal structure (12) having an array of parallel cells (46, 46′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Sangiovanni, Zissis A. Dardas, Mariana A. Ioneva, Lin Li