To provide a non-chromate surface treatment agent that, without using one or two or more iron group compounds selected from oxides, hydroxides, or oxyhydroxides of iron, nickel, or cobalt, or the like, allows a surface treatment coating having excellent adhesion to an aluminum material or the like and an upper layer film and providing excellent corrosion resistance to the aluminum material or the like to be formed between the aluminum material or the like and the upper layer film, a method for forming a surface treatment coating using the surface treatment agent, and an aluminum material or an aluminum alloy material having thereon the surface treatment coating. The above challenge can be solved by a surface treatment agent that contains a water-soluble or water-dispersible organic polymer (A) containing a carbonyl group and/or hydroxyl group in a unit structure and an organic polymer (B) containing a phosphonic group.

The present invention proposes a method to form a gradient thin film using a spray pyrolysis technique. The method comprises providing a base substrate, preparing a spray aqueous solution by mixing at least two precursor compounds comprising at least two different elements and spraying the spray aqueous solution onto the base substrate. According to the present invention, the ratio of the concentration of the at least two different elements within the spray aqueous solution is varied while performing the method. In this way, a thin film having a gradient of elemental composition over its layer thickness may be formed.

The present invention proposes a method to form a gradient thin film using a spray pyrolysis technique. The method comprises providing a base substrate, preparing a spray aqueous solution by mixing at least two precursor compounds comprising at least two different elements and spraying the spray aqueous solution onto the base substrate. According to the present invention, the ratio of the concentration of the at least two different elements within the spray aqueous solution is varied while performing the method. In this way, a thin film having a gradient of elemental composition over its layer thickness may be formed.

A chromium-free aqueous treatment solution for coating metal surfaces which meets corrosion resistance, electrical contact resistance, and paint adhesion requirements set forth in MIL-DTL-81706B, Class 3. The treatment solution contains a compound of a Group IV-B element, and a vanadium ion. The solution may be inorganic and molybdate-free.

Provided are a chromium-free surface-treated tinplate, a production method and a surface treating agent thereof. By coating, on the surface of a tinplate, an environmentally friendly aqueous surface treating agent containing 0.1-5 wt % of a zinc salt, 0.1-5 wt % of a zirconium salt and/or a molybdenum salt and 5-30 wt % of siloxane or polysiloxane, a layer of chromium-free passivation film having uniform and dense ingredients and a good performance and being stable is formed on the surface of a tin layer. The passivation film contains 0.1-20 mg/m.sup.2 of zinc, 0.1-20 mg/m.sup.2 of zirconium and/or molybdenum and 0.5-100 mg/m.sup.2 silicon. The passivation film can impart an excellent surface stability, corrosion resistance and paint film adhesion performance to the surface of the tinplate; in addition, contact with food is safe. The tinplate is comparable to chromium passivation in performance, and the production process thereof does not use a chromate, so that a truly green production process of a tinplate is achieved, complying with the requirements of increasingly strict environmental protection laws and regulations.

Provided are a chromium-free surface-treated tinplate, a production method and a surface treating agent thereof. By coating, on the surface of a tinplate, an environmentally friendly aqueous surface treating agent containing 0.1-5 wt % of a zinc salt, 0.1-5 wt % of a zirconium salt and/or a molybdenum salt and 5-30 wt % of siloxane or polysiloxane, a layer of chromium-free passivation film having uniform and dense ingredients and a good performance and being stable is formed on the surface of a tin layer. The passivation film contains 0.1-20 mg/m.sup.2 of zinc, 0.1-20 mg/m.sup.2 of zirconium and/or molybdenum and 0.5-100 mg/m.sup.2 silicon. The passivation film can impart an excellent surface stability, corrosion resistance and paint film adhesion performance to the surface of the tinplate; in addition, contact with food is safe. The tinplate is comparable to chromium passivation in performance, and the production process thereof does not use a chromate, so that a truly green production process of a tinplate is achieved, complying with the requirements of increasingly strict environmental protection laws and regulations.

A method for increasing corrosion resistance of metallic substrates without use of hexavalent chromium includes chemically treating the substrate to create an oxide layer, mixing graphene nanoplatelets into a non-chromate epoxy-based primer, applying the primer to the oxide layer of the substrate, and applying a topcoat to the primer opposite the oxide layer.

A method for increasing corrosion resistance of metallic substrates without use of hexavalent chromium includes chemically treating the substrate to create an oxide layer, mixing graphene nanoplatelets into a non-chromate epoxy-based primer, applying the primer to the oxide layer of the substrate, and applying a topcoat to the primer opposite the oxide layer.

The present disclosure presents a method and a system for modifying a surface of a substrate. The method includes an act of abrasive blasting of a part of the surface of the substrate. In the abrasive blasting, an abrasive media is provided to the part of the surface. The abrasive media is carried to the part by a first carrier. The abrasive media collides with the part of the surface and causes abrasion to the part of the surface. In the method, the first carrier includes steam. The steam of the first carrier heats the part of the surface.

The present disclosure presents a method and a system for modifying a surface of a substrate. The method includes an act of abrasive blasting of a part of the surface of the substrate. In the abrasive blasting, an abrasive media is provided to the part of the surface. The abrasive media is carried to the part by a first carrier. The abrasive media collides with the part of the surface and causes abrasion to the part of the surface. In the method, the first carrier includes steam. The steam of the first carrier heats the part of the surface.