The present invention relates to organic acid- or latent organic acid-functionalized polymer-coated metal powders, such as metal powders used as appropriate in the formation of solder alloys, spheres and pastes.

The present invention relates to processes for producing fluorine-containing compounds by means of precipitation reactions from solutions containing fluoride ions wherein the pH value is determined using an electrochemical measuring chain and to electrochemical measuring chains for determining pH values.

The invention relates to a method for producing a permanently joined plate heat exchanger comprising a plurality of metal heat exchanger plates having a solidus temperature above 1000 C., provided beside each other and forming a plate package with first plate interspaces for a first medium and second plate interspaces for a second medium, wherein the first and second plate interspaces are provided in an alternating order in the plate package, wherein each heat exchanger plate comprises a heat transfer area and an edge area comprising bent edges which extend around the heat transfer area, wherein a first surface of the plates forms a convex shape and a second surface of the plates forms a concave shape, wherein the heat transfer area comprises a corrugation of elevations and depressions, wherein said corrugation of the plates and the bent edges are provided by pressing the plates. The invention also relates to a plate heat exchanger produced by the method.

Embodiments of an alloy that can be resistant to cracking. In some embodiments, the alloy can be advantageous for use as a hardfacing alloys, in both a diluted and undiluted state. Certain microstructural, thermodynamic, and performance criteria can be met by embodiments of the alloys that may make them advantageous for hardfacing.

Non-hygroscopic brazing fluxes, methods for producing non-hygroscopic brazing fluxes, and methods for producing hydrated cesium aluminum fluorides are provided. An exemplary method for producing a non-hygroscopic brazing flux includes preparing a mixture including aluminum, cesium, and fluorine. The prepared mixture has an aluminum:cesium:fluorine molar ratio of about (1):(1.1-1.2):(4.0-4.2). The method further includes drying the mixture at a temperature higher than about 90 C. to form a product comprising at least about 20 mass percent hydrated cesium aluminum fluoride, based on the total mass of the product.

The invention discloses the internal structures and processes to synthesize the structure of self-healing materials, especially metallic materials, metal matrix micro and nanocomposites. Self-healing is imparted by incorporation of macro, micro or nanosize hollow reinforcements including nanotubes, filled with low melting healing material or incorporation of healing material in pockets within the metallic matrix; the healing material melts and fills the crack. In another concept, macro, micro and nanosize solid reinforcements including ceramic and metallic particles, and shape memory alloys are incorporated into alloy matrices, specially nanostructured alloy matrices, to impart self healing by applying compressive stresses on the crack or diffusing material into voids to fill them. The processes to synthesize these self-healing and nanocomposite structures, including pressure or pressureless infiltration, stir mixing and squeeze casting in addition to solid and vapour phase consolidation processes are part of this invention.

This flux contains a chelating agent and an organic acid. The chelating agent contains a compound (C) having a five-member ring structure comprising nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, and carbon atoms. The organic acid includes an organic sulfonic acid.

A bonding sheet according to the present invention contains a matrix resin; solder particles; and a fluxing agent. In the bonding sheet, the solder particles are dispersed in the matrix resin, and the fluxing agent is unevenly distributed around the solder particles in the matrix resin. The method for producing the bonding sheet of the present invention includes a first step of dissolving a fluxing agent in a first solvent to prepare a fluxing agent solution; a second step of mixing a second solvent, a matrix resin component, solder particles, and the fluxing agent solution to prepare a mixed composition; and a third step of applying the mixed composition onto a substrate to form a coated film, and then drying the coated film to form a bonding sheet.

Disclosed is an aluminum composite material including an aluminum alloy material containing magnesium, and a bonding material formed by brazing using a flux, the bonding material being adapted to bond the aluminum alloy material thereto. In the aluminum composite material, the bonding material contains a magnesium-containing compound other than KMgF.sub.3 and MgF.sub.2. The present invention provides an aluminum composite material with satisfactory brazeability to an aluminum alloy material containing magnesium, a heat exchanger including the aluminum composite material, and a flux suitable for use in braze.

A mixture contains metal oxide particles that are coated with an organic compound. The organic compound is represented by Formula I:
R.sup.1COR.sup.2(I), wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic residue having 8 to 32 carbon atoms, wherein R.sup.2 is either OM or comprises the moiety XR.sup.3, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NR.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic residue, wherein R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic residue, and wherein M is a cation. The mixture may be used to connect components and/or to produce a module. A method for producing the mixture is also provided.