Provided is a coated metal sheet for exterior use, having a metal sheet, and a top coat film situated on the metal sheet. The top coat film contains 0.2-15 volume percent of a gloss control agent composed of porous particles and a delustering agent composed of primary particles. The coated metal sheet satisfies the following expressions in which, in the number-size distribution of the gloss control agent and the delustering agent, R is the number-average particle diameter (μm) of the gloss control agent, D1.sub.97.5 and D2.sub.97.5 are 97.5% particle diameter values (μm) of the gloss control agent and the delustering agent, Ru is the upper limit particle diameter (μm) of the gloss control agent, and T is the film thickness (μm) of the top coat film.

D1.sub.97.5/T≦0.7

Ru≦1.2T

R≧1.0

2.0≦D2.sub.97.5/T≦7.0

13≦T≦20.

Articles and methods related to passivation layers on alkali metals are generally described.

Articles and methods related to passivation layers on alkali metals are generally described.

The invention relates to a stabilized lithium metal powder and to a method for producing the same, the stabilized, pure lithium metal powder having been passivated in an organic inert solvent under dispersal conditions with fatty acids or fatty acid esters according to the general formula (I) R—COOR′, in which R stands for C.sub.10-C.sub.29 groups and R′ for H or C.sub.1-C.sub.8 groups.

A method for hot or warm forming a workpiece may comprise providing the workpiece to be formed, at least partially pretreating the workpiece, at least partially heating the workpiece to a target temperature, and at least partially forming and/or hardening the workpiece. Furthermore, the workpiece may be at least partially cleaned in a cleaning step between the pretreating and the heating of the workpiece. In some examples, at least partially cleaning the workpiece may involve brushing the workpiece, using a cleaning bath, or heating the workpiece with a first burner to a cleaning temperature. Further, one or more burners used to heat or clean the workpiece may be operated with a fuel gas and/or an oxygen-containing gas.

A method for hot or warm forming a workpiece may comprise providing the workpiece to be formed, at least partially pretreating the workpiece, at least partially heating the workpiece to a target temperature, and at least partially forming and/or hardening the workpiece. Furthermore, the workpiece may be at least partially cleaned in a cleaning step between the pretreating and the heating of the workpiece. In some examples, at least partially cleaning the workpiece may involve brushing the workpiece, using a cleaning bath, or heating the workpiece with a first burner to a cleaning temperature. Further, one or more burners used to heat or clean the workpiece may be operated with a fuel gas and/or an oxygen-containing gas.

A surface treatment method capable of imparting exceptional corrosion resistance and moisture resistance to an NB heat exchanger. The method includes subjecting an NB heat exchanger to a chemical conversion treatment to form a chemical conversion film on the surface thereof using a chemical conversion treatment agent that contains zirconium and/or titanium in a total amount of 5-5,000 ppm by weight, vanadium in an amount of 10-1,000 ppm by weight, and has a pH of 2-6; bringing the NB heat exchanger on whose surface the chemical conversion film is formed into contact with a hydrophilization agent containing a hydrophilic resin and a guanidine compound and/or a salt thereof; and baking the NB heat exchanger subjected to the contacting process, whereby a hydrophilic film is formed on the surface thereof.

A surface treatment method capable of imparting exceptional corrosion resistance and moisture resistance to an NB heat exchanger. The method includes subjecting an NB heat exchanger to a chemical conversion treatment to form a chemical conversion film on the surface thereof using a chemical conversion treatment agent that contains zirconium and/or titanium in a total amount of 5-5,000 ppm by weight, vanadium in an amount of 10-1,000 ppm by weight, and has a pH of 2-6; bringing the NB heat exchanger on whose surface the chemical conversion film is formed into contact with a hydrophilization agent containing a hydrophilic resin and a guanidine compound and/or a salt thereof; and baking the NB heat exchanger subjected to the contacting process, whereby a hydrophilic film is formed on the surface thereof.

A method for continuously annealing aluminium alloy sheet at final thickness by continuously moving heat-treatable AlMgSi aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous annealing furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (T.sub.SET) in the temperature range of 500° C. to 590° C., the continuous annealing furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous annealing furnace, wherein the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, wherein before or near the entry section of the continuous annealing furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the T.sub.SET using an average heat-up rate as function of sheet thickness of at least Y=−31.Math.ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

A method for continuously annealing aluminium alloy sheet at final thickness by continuously moving heat-treatable AlMgSi aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous annealing furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (T.sub.SET) in the temperature range of 500° C. to 590° C., the continuous annealing furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous annealing furnace, wherein the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, wherein before or near the entry section of the continuous annealing furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the T.sub.SET using an average heat-up rate as function of sheet thickness of at least Y=−31.Math.ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.