New Developments in the Metal Finishing Field Compi l ed by A n s e l m K u h n , M e t a l F i n i s h i n g I n f o r m a t i o n Serv ices Ltd.

Recently published patents

Electrochemical Treating Method such as ElectToplating and Eleclbrochemical Reaction Device US. Patent 6793793 Iwao, F.; Sone, M., et al. Electroplating or other electro- chemical processing and clean- ing in supercritical or subcritical liquid.

Process for Producing Thin Meta l Oxide Film US. Patent 67997338 (Chubu Chelest Co. Ltd.) Furukawa, M.; Ohshio, S., et al. Process for forming a thin metal oxide film comprises molding an amorphous powder of organic metal chelate complexes to obtain a target. The process also includes subjecting the target to a PVD process that forms the thin metal oxide.

M e t h o d and Appara tus for Vacuum Heat Trea tment

US. 2004187966 Yamaguchi, K.; Tanaka, Y. Vacuum heat treatment includ- ing carburizing (at high temper- atures or high concentrations), carbonitriding where ethylene and hydrogen, etc., gases are detected and analyzed to provide optimum concentrations.

M e t h o d for the Meta l l i za t ion of Optical Fibers US. Patent 6798963 (Bluebird Optical Mems. Ltd.) Sidorov, E.; Nemirovsky, Y. Combined vacuum evaporation and electroless deposition. The method can be used for single-mode or PM fibers.

M e t h o d for Depos i t ion of Wear -Res is tan t Coat ings and for Increas ing the Li fespan of Parts U.S. Patent 6797335 Ve Xler, J.G.; Paderov, A.Y.N. A method that improves the service life, durability, and

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repair of machine components by applying coatings to working surfaces followed by a special t rea tment of the surfaces. The basis of the method is deposi- tion of erosion- and corrosion- resistant coatings on machine components, which comprises a plurality of microlayers wherein each of the microlayers compris- es one or more elements select- ed from the transit ion metal group, solid solutions, or inter- stitial phases based thereon, and wherein one or more of the microlayers is subjected to high- energy, nonmetallic ion deposi- tion that causes changes in structure and composition of the deposited microlayer, thus improving performance charac- teristics. After the full coating has been deposited, a vibrome- chanical t reatment with micro- pellets (peening) is applied to the surface of machine compo- nents, improving distribution of residual stresses.

Light Meta l Anodization US. Patent 6797147 (Henkel KGAA) Dolan, S.E. Using aqueous electrolytes con- taining complex fluorides or oxyfluorides such as fluorozir- conates, fluorotitanates, and flu- orosilicates, articles containing light metals such as magnesium and aluminum may be rapidly anodized to form protective sur- face coatings. White coatings may be formed on aluminum articles using pulsed direct cur- rent or al ternat ing current. When the article to be anodized is comprised of magnesium, pulsed direct current having a

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