A press hardening method including: A. provision of a steel sheet for heat treatment, being optionally precoated with a zinc- or aluminum-based pre-coating, B. deposition of a hydrogen barrier pre-coating comprising chromium and not comprising nickel over a thickness from 10 to 550 nm, C. cutting of the precoated steel sheet to obtain a blank, D. heat treatment of the blank at a furnace temperature from 800 to 970° C., during a dwell time from 1 to 12 minutes, in an atmosphere having an oxidizing power equal or higher than that of an atmosphere consisting of 1% by volume of oxygen and equal or smaller than that of an atmosphere consisting of 50% by volume of oxygen, such atmosphere having a dew point between −30 and +30° C., E. transfer of the blank into a press tool, F. hot-forming at a temperature from 600 to 830° C. to obtain a part, G. cooling of the part obtained at step E).

A decorative component includes a plurality of metal finish layers deposited over a substrate and a plurality of sub-layers. The outermost metal finish layer is selectively deposited or removed to define one or more recesses to create different appearances of the component. The outer metal layer may undergo laser ablation to remove at least a portion of the outer layer while still exposing the outer layer in the area of removed material. The recess may extend fully through the outer layer to expose the underlying metal finish layer, and/or the recess may have a sloped bottom surface to define a gradient appearance. The outer layer may be applied over a mask that is applied to the underlying layer, such that the outer layer is selectively applied. The outer layer may be removed to expose the underlying finish layer without exposing a nickel sublayer and without requiring a top coat.

A decorative component includes a plurality of metal finish layers deposited over a substrate and a plurality of sub-layers. The outermost metal finish layer is selectively deposited or removed to define one or more recesses to create different appearances of the component. The outer metal layer may undergo laser ablation to remove at least a portion of the outer layer while still exposing the outer layer in the area of removed material. The recess may extend fully through the outer layer to expose the underlying metal finish layer, and/or the recess may have a sloped bottom surface to define a gradient appearance. The outer layer may be applied over a mask that is applied to the underlying layer, such that the outer layer is selectively applied. The outer layer may be removed to expose the underlying finish layer without exposing a nickel sublayer and without requiring a top coat.

According to one embodiment, a wet-area device includes a main part, a first layer, and a second layer. The first layer is provided on an outer surface of the main part. The second layer is provided on an outer surface of the first layer. A hardness of the second layer is greater than a hardness of the first layer. The first layer includes a first unevenness at a side of the outer surface of the first layer. The first unevenness includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions. The second layer includes a second unevenness at a side of an outer surface of the second layer. The second unevenness includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions. The second unevenness is arranged along the first unevenness. An average height of the first unevenness is less than an average length of the first unevenness.

A coated steel material including: a base steel, and a coating layer containing a Zn—Al—Mg alloy layer disposed on a surface of the base steel, wherein the coating layer has a predetermined chemical composition, and, in a backscattered electron image of the Zn—Al—Mg alloy layer that is obtained at a time of observing the surface of the Zn—Al—Mg alloy layer after polishing to ½ of the layer thickness, under a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 100×, Al crystals are present, and the average value of the cumulative circumferential length of the Al crystals is 88 to 195 mm/mm.sup.2.

Methods for treating a substrate are disclosed. The substrate is deoxidized and then immersed in an electrodepositable pretreatment composition comprising a lanthanide series element and/or a Group IIIB metal, an oxidizing agent, and a metal-complexing agent to deposit a coating from the electrodepositable pretreatment composition onto a surface of the substrate. Optionally, the electrodepositable pretreatment composition may comprise a surfactant. A coating from a spontaneously depositable pretreatment composition comprising a Group IIIB and/or Group IVB metal may be deposited on the substrate surface prior to electrodepositing a coating from the electrodepositable pretreatment composition. Following electrodeposition of the electrodepositable pretreatment composition, the substrate optionally may be contacted with a sealing composition comprising phosphate and a Group IIIB and/or IVB metal. Substrates treated according to the methods also are disclosed.

A hot-rolled coated steel sheet including: in wt %, C: 0.05-0.14%, Si: 0.1-1.0%, Mn: 1.0-2.0%, P: 0.001-0.05%, S: 0.001-0.01%, AI: 0.01-0.1%, Cr: 0.005-1.0%, Ti: 0.005-0.13%, Nb: 0.005-0.03%, N: 0.001-0.01%, Fe residues, and other inevitable impurities; a mixed structure of ferrite and bainite as a main phase; and as a remaining structure, one or more selected from the group consisting of martensite, austenite, and phase martensite (MA), wherein a fraction of the ferrite and bainite is 95-99 area % and Equation 1 is satisfied. [Equation 1] FCO.sub.{110}<112>+FCO.sub.{112}<111>≥10 where, FCO.sub.{110}<112> and FCO.sub.{112}<111>, each representing an area fraction occupied by a structure having ac crystal orientation of {110}<112> and {112}<111>.

A copper-coated steel wire includes a core wire made of a steel and a coating layer made of copper or a copper alloy which covers an outer peripheral surface of the core wire. The coating layer includes an intermediate layer which is disposed in a region including the interface with the core wire and has a higher zinc concentration than a remaining region of the coating layer.

An embodiment relates to an ultrasonic additive manufacturing process, comprising joining a foil comprising a bulk metallic glass to a substrate; and forming a cladded composite comprising the foil and the substrate; wherein a thickness of the cladded composite is greater than a critical casting thickness of the bulk metallic glass, wherein the cladded composite comprises a cladding layer of the bulk metallic glass on the substrate and the bulk metallic glass comprises approximately 0% crystallinity, approximately 0% porosity, less than 50 MPa thermal stress, approximately 0% distortion, approximately 0 inch heat affected zone, approximately 0% dilution, and a strength of about 2,000-3,500 MPa.

An embodiment relates to an ultrasonic additive manufacturing process, comprising joining a foil comprising a bulk metallic glass to a substrate; and forming a cladded composite comprising the foil and the substrate; wherein a thickness of the cladded composite is greater than a critical casting thickness of the bulk metallic glass, wherein the cladded composite comprises a cladding layer of the bulk metallic glass on the substrate and the bulk metallic glass comprises approximately 0% crystallinity, approximately 0% porosity, less than 50 MPa thermal stress, approximately 0% distortion, approximately 0 inch heat affected zone, approximately 0% dilution, and a strength of about 2,000-3,500 MPa.