A method for electropolishing a manufactured metallic article, the method comprising: contacting the metallic article with an electropolishing electrolyte; and electropolishing the metallic article in the electropolishing electrolyte through the application of an applied current regime comprising: at least one electropolishing regime, each electropolishing regime comprising a current density of at least 2 A/cm.sup.2 and a voltage comprising a shaped waveform having a frequency from 2 Hz to 300 kHz, a minimum voltage of at least 0 V and a maximum voltage of between 0.5 to 500 V.

A process for smoothing the surface of a manufactured metallic workpiece, the workpiece having a region having an initial roughness (Ra) of greater than 2.0 m, the process involving (1) placing the metallic workpiece as the anode in an electrochemical cell, (2) arranging for the temperature of the electrolyte in the vicinity of the anode to be at least 50 C., (3) applying a voltage from 100V to 1000V across the electrochemical cell, thereby to generate a plasma membrane on the surface of the metallic workpiece which acts to remove material from the surface of the metallic workpiece, (4) maintaining the plasma membrane for a period effective to cause the roughness of the workpiece to be reduced.

A process for smoothing the surface of a manufactured metallic workpiece, the workpiece having a region having an initial roughness (Ra) of greater than 2.0 m, the process involving (1) placing the metallic workpiece as the anode in an electrochemical cell, (2) arranging for the temperature of the electrolyte in the vicinity of the anode to be at least 50 C., (3) applying a voltage from 100V to 1000V across the electrochemical cell, thereby to generate a plasma membrane on the surface of the metallic workpiece which acts to remove material from the surface of the metallic workpiece, (4) maintaining the plasma membrane for a period effective to cause the roughness of the workpiece to be reduced.

A grain-oriented electrical steel sheet according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a steel sheet 1; an intermediate layer 4 containing Si and O, arranged on the steel sheet; and an insulation coating 3 arranged on the intermediate layer 4, in which the intermediate layer 4 contains a metal phosphide 5, a thickness of the intermediate layer 4 is 4 nm or more, and an abundance of the metal phosphide 5 present is 1% to 30% by cross-sectional area fraction in a cross section of the intermediate layer 4.

A method for subjecting garment accessories to a surface electrolytic treatment provides various metallic colors to metallic garment accessories in a cost effective manner. The method can provide a first metallic color on one side of outer surface of the garment accessory and provide a second metallic color on the other side of the outer surface, by placing one or more metallic garment accessories in an electrolytic solution in a non-contact state with an anode and a cathode for passing electric current through the electrolytic solution, passing electric current through the electrolytic solution and generating a bipolar phenomenon on the garment accessory.

A method for subjecting garment accessories to a surface electrolytic treatment provides various metallic colors to metallic garment accessories in a cost effective manner. The method can provide a first metallic color on one side of outer surface of the garment accessory and provide a second metallic color on the other side of the outer surface, by placing one or more metallic garment accessories in an electrolytic solution in a non-contact state with an anode and a cathode for passing electric current through the electrolytic solution, passing electric current through the electrolytic solution and generating a bipolar phenomenon on the garment accessory.

The solenoid valve may include a coil, a stem core tube, and a core. The coil may include one or more electrical leads configured to provide the coil with an electric current. The coil may be configured to convert the electric current to a magnetic field. At least a portion of the stem core tube may be insertable within a coil channel. At least a portion of the core may be insertable within an end of the stem core tube and may be moveable within the stem core tube via the magnetic field. At least one of the stem core tube or the core may be fabricated from 434 stainless steel and treated with one or more corrosion prevention processes. The solenoid valve may be couplable to one or more components of the brewing apparatus. The brewing apparatus may be dimensioned to fit within a compartment of the aircraft galley.

The solenoid valve may include a coil, a stem core tube, and a core. The coil may include one or more electrical leads configured to provide the coil with an electric current. The coil may be configured to convert the electric current to a magnetic field. At least a portion of the stem core tube may be insertable within a coil channel. At least a portion of the core may be insertable within an end of the stem core tube and may be moveable within the stem core tube via the magnetic field. At least one of the stem core tube or the core may be fabricated from 434 stainless steel and treated with one or more corrosion prevention processes. The solenoid valve may be couplable to one or more components of the brewing apparatus. The brewing apparatus may be dimensioned to fit within a compartment of the aircraft galley.

A multi-step Q-passivation method for stainless steel is described. The method includes a first high voltage electropolishing step followed by as separate low voltage chromium enhancement step. The method can also include a vacuum heat treatment step that utilizes a cyclic ramp-up period so as to maintain a relatively low pressure and low temperature throughout the step. The method can also include a controlled oxidation step during which the surface is contacted with an oxygen/inert gas mixture at low oxygen partial pressure.

A multi-step Q-passivation method for stainless steel is described. The method includes a first high voltage electropolishing step followed by as separate low voltage chromium enhancement step. The method can also include a vacuum heat treatment step that utilizes a cyclic ramp-up period so as to maintain a relatively low pressure and low temperature throughout the step. The method can also include a controlled oxidation step during which the surface is contacted with an oxygen/inert gas mixture at low oxygen partial pressure.