A method and apparatus for processing an object (4), for example an aluminium aircraft part, the method comprising: performing a first conversion coating process to dispose a first conversion coating (10) onto at least part of a surface of the object (4); partially masking the first conversion coating (10) disposed on the object (4); performing an etching process to remove, from the object (4), an unmasked portion of the first conversion coating (10) while retaining the masked portion of the first conversion coating (10) on the object (4); and performing a second conversion coating process to dispose a second conversion coating (12) onto a region of the surface of the object (4) from which the unmasked portion of the first conversion coating (10) was removed. A paint layer (14) may then be applied to, e.g., the second conversion coating (12).

Disclosed herein is a phosphonate-free, aqueous pickling composition having a pH value at 55° C. in the range from 5 to 9, and containing at least one copolymer, which is water-soluble or water-dispersible and selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidones; the content of water being in the range from 95.0 wt.-% to 99.9 wt.-% based on the total weight of the composition. Further disclosed herein is a concentrate to produce such compositions, a pickling method for pickling metallic substrates making use of the compositions, a coating method for coating metallic substrates including the pickling method and a method of using the compositions for pickling metallic substrates.

The present invention relates to a method for zinc phosphating of metal surfaces using a colloidal aqueous solution as activation stage, a zinc phosphate layer having a layer weight of less than 2.0 g/m.sup.2 being deposited on surfaces of zinc in the method step following activation. The activation stage is based on a colloidal aqueous solution containing a dispersed particulate constituent, the particulate constituent containing, in addition to dispersed inorganic compounds of phosphates of polyvalent metal cations, a polymeric organic compound as a dispersing agent that is composed at least partially of styrene and/or an α-olefin having no more than 5 carbon atoms, the polymeric organic compound additionally comprising units of maleic acid, their anhydride and/or their imide and the polymeric organic compound additionally comprising polyoxyalkylene units.

Provided is a method for forming a silicon oxycarbonitride film (SiOCN) with varying proportions of each element, using a disilane precursor under vapor deposition conditions, wherein the percent carbon incorporation into the SiOCN film may be varied between about 5 to about 60%, by utilizing co-reactants chosen from oxygen, ammonia, and nitrous oxide gas. The carbon-enriched SiOCN films thus formed may be converted to pure silicon dioxide films after an etch stop protocol by treatment with O.sub.2 plasma.

Provided is a method for forming a silicon oxycarbonitride film (SiOCN) with varying proportions of each element, using a disilane precursor under vapor deposition conditions, wherein the percent carbon incorporation into the SiOCN film may be varied between about 5 to about 60%, by utilizing co-reactants chosen from oxygen, ammonia, and nitrous oxide gas. The carbon-enriched SiOCN films thus formed may be converted to pure silicon dioxide films after an etch stop protocol by treatment with O.sub.2 plasma.

A kit for applying a coating includes a first handheld container with a first liquid trivalent chromium salt composition disposed therein. A first applicator is disposed in fluid communication with the first container and is configured to dispense the first composition. The kit also includes a second handheld container having a second liquid oxidizing agent composition disposed therein. A second applicator is disposed in fluid communication with the second container and is configured to dispense the second composition.

A kit for applying a coating includes a first handheld container with a first liquid trivalent chromium salt composition disposed therein. A first applicator is disposed in fluid communication with the first container and is configured to dispense the first composition. The kit also includes a second handheld container having a second liquid oxidizing agent composition disposed therein. A second applicator is disposed in fluid communication with the second container and is configured to dispense the second composition.

Provided are stainless steel for a separator of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity and enhanced corrosion resistance, and a method of manufacturing the same. In the stainless steel for a separator of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity and enhanced corrosion resistance, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a ratio of Cr hydroxide/Cr oxide included in a passivation film of the stainless steel ranges from 0.7 to 1.6, and the passivation film has a contact angle (θ) of 70° or less. Thus, not only corrosion resistance may be enhanced by removing a non-conductive film formed on a surface of the stainless steel and forming a new conductive film thereon, but hydrophilicity may also be secured without additional surface treatment such as a separate coating or the like, and thus manufacturing costs may be reduced and productivity may be increased.

Provided are stainless steel for a separator of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity and enhanced corrosion resistance, and a method of manufacturing the same. In the stainless steel for a separator of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity and enhanced corrosion resistance, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a ratio of Cr hydroxide/Cr oxide included in a passivation film of the stainless steel ranges from 0.7 to 1.6, and the passivation film has a contact angle (θ) of 70° or less. Thus, not only corrosion resistance may be enhanced by removing a non-conductive film formed on a surface of the stainless steel and forming a new conductive film thereon, but hydrophilicity may also be secured without additional surface treatment such as a separate coating or the like, and thus manufacturing costs may be reduced and productivity may be increased.

There is disclosed a functional lamellar particle including an unconverted portion of the lamellar particle, wherein the unconverted portion includes a first metal, a converted portion of the lamellar particle disposed external to a surface of the unconverted portion, wherein the converted portion includes a chemical compound of the first metal; and a functional coating disposed external to a surface of the converted portion.