A cold-rolled or hot-rolled steel strip having a metal coating, the steel strip having iron as the main constituent and, in addition to carbon, an Mn content of 4.1 to 8.0 wt. % and optionally one or more of the alloy elements Al, Si, Cr, B, Ti, V, Nb and/or Mo. The surface of the uncoated steel strip is cleaned, a layer of pure iron is applied to the cleaned surface, an oxygen-containing iron-based layer is applied to the layer of pure iron and contains more than five mass percent oxygen. The steel strip is then annealed and, to attain a surface consisting substantially of metallic iron, is subjected to a reduction treatment in a reducing furnace while being annealed. The steel strip is then coated with the metallic coating by hot dipping. Uniform and reproducible adhesion conditions are hereby achieved for the metallic coating on the steel strip surface.

An insulation layer formation method comprises: a first step in which a surface treatment is applied to a base material to form thereon a high-resistance layer having high electric resistivity; a second step in which metal plating parts are formed on the base material that has undergone the first step in such a manner as to allow a high-resistance layer to be formed thereon; and a third process in which a high-resistance layer is formed on the base material that has undergone the second step.

A method for microstructure modification of conducting lines is provided. An electroplating process is performed to deposit the metal thin film/conducting line(s) with a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure and a preferred crystallographic orientation over a surface of a substrate. The metal thin film/ conducting line(s) is subsequently subjected to a thermal annealing process to modify its microstructure with the grain sizes in a range of 5 μm to 100 μm. The thermal annealing process is conducted at the temperature of above 25 degrees Celsius and below 240 degrees Celsius.

An apparatus and method for electrochemically depositing a layer using a reactor configured to contain an electrolyte solution with an anode array containing a plurality of independently electrically controllable anodes arranged in a two-dimensional array, a cathode, an addressing circuit for receiving a signal containing anode address data, and for outputting a signal causing an anode array pattern; in communication with the addressing circuit, the current controller and the anode array, the second controller operable to communicate with the current controller to command the flow of current to each anode in the anode array thereby causing an electrochemical reaction at the cathode to deposit a layer corresponding to the anode array pattern signal received from the addressing circuit.

An apparatus and method for electrochemically depositing a layer using a reactor configured to contain an electrolyte solution with an anode array containing a plurality of independently electrically controllable anodes arranged in a two-dimensional array, a cathode, an addressing circuit for receiving a signal containing anode address data, and for outputting a signal causing an anode array pattern; in communication with the addressing circuit, the current controller and the anode array, the second controller operable to communicate with the current controller to command the flow of current to each anode in the anode array thereby causing an electrochemical reaction at the cathode to deposit a layer corresponding to the anode array pattern signal received from the addressing circuit.

Provided herein is a composition for forming a metal deposit on a substrate. The composition consists essentially of a carboxamide, trialkylamine chloride, and a metal salt. The carboxamide comprises Formula (I). The trialkylamine chloride and the carboxamide are in molar ratio between 1:1 and 1:30 to form an ionic liquid. The trialkylamine chloride is trimethylamine chloride (TMACl), triethylamine chloride (TEACl), triethanolamine chloride, or combinations thereof. The metal salt has the formula MX.sub.y, wherein M is a metal, X is a halide, and y is an oxidation number of M, the metal salt being in a concentration between about 0.2 and about 1.5 moles per liter of the ionic liquid. The metal deposit has an average grain size between about 0.2 μm and about 3 μm and contains less than about 1 mol % of each oxygen, carbon, and chlorine.

Provided herein is a composition for forming a metal deposit on a substrate. The composition consists essentially of a carboxamide, trialkylamine chloride, and a metal salt. The carboxamide comprises Formula (I). The trialkylamine chloride and the carboxamide are in molar ratio between 1:1 and 1:30 to form an ionic liquid. The trialkylamine chloride is trimethylamine chloride (TMACl), triethylamine chloride (TEACl), triethanolamine chloride, or combinations thereof. The metal salt has the formula MX.sub.y, wherein M is a metal, X is a halide, and y is an oxidation number of M, the metal salt being in a concentration between about 0.2 and about 1.5 moles per liter of the ionic liquid. The metal deposit has an average grain size between about 0.2 μm and about 3 μm and contains less than about 1 mol % of each oxygen, carbon, and chlorine.

A steel cord that is suitable for reinforcing rubber articles such as tires. The inventive steel cord enables to completely eliminate the presence of cobalt in a tire when combined with the proper cobalt free compound. Advantageously the steel cord adheres equally well to rubbers containing organic cobalt salts. The inventive wire is different from prior art steel cords in that the brass coating now comprises iron particles. The iron particles have a size between 10 nm and 10 000 nm. The presence of iron mitigates the adhesion retention loss of the rubber to steel cord bond in a hot and humid environment. It is a further advantage that the inventive steel cord does not contain any intentionally added cobalt thereby contributing to the elimination of harmful substances in the production area as well as the environment.

A steel cord that is suitable for reinforcing rubber articles such as tires. The inventive steel cord enables to completely eliminate the presence of cobalt in a tire when combined with the proper cobalt free compound. Advantageously the steel cord adheres equally well to rubbers containing organic cobalt salts. The inventive wire is different from prior art steel cords in that the brass coating now comprises iron particles. The iron particles have a size between 10 nm and 10 000 nm. The presence of iron mitigates the adhesion retention loss of the rubber to steel cord bond in a hot and humid environment. It is a further advantage that the inventive steel cord does not contain any intentionally added cobalt thereby contributing to the elimination of harmful substances in the production area as well as the environment.

Methods for electrodeposition using aqueous electrolytes where water molecules are depleted are described herein. Methods of electrodepositing superconducting thin films from aqueous electrolytes where water molecules are depleted are also described herein.