There is provided a more versatile technique that is useful for enhancing the sintering delay property of a metal powder. A metal powder surface-treated with at least one coupling agent comprising Si, Ti, Al or Zr, wherein a total adhesion amount of Si, Ti, Al and Zr is 200 to 10,000 μg with respect to 1 g of the surface-treated metal powder, wherein a 1% by mass aqueous solution of the coupling agent indicates a pH of 7 or less, and wherein a sintering starting temperature is 500° C. or higher.

Provided are conducting members for fuel cells obtained by applying a protective film forming agent to a surface-treated base material having a base material and at least one alloy plating layer formed on the base material in order to form a protective film on the alloy plating layer, and thereafter subjecting the surface-treated base material to an acid treatment. In the conducting members for fuel cells of the present invention, the protective film forming agent preferably contains a mixture of a compound having a thiol group and an azole-based compound, and/or an azole-based compound having a thiol group. In the conducting members for fuel cells of the present invention, the acid treatment is preferably a treatment using sulfuric acid or nitric acid.

Provided are conducting members for fuel cells obtained by applying a protective film forming agent to a surface-treated base material having a base material and at least one alloy plating layer formed on the base material in order to form a protective film on the alloy plating layer, and thereafter subjecting the surface-treated base material to an acid treatment. In the conducting members for fuel cells of the present invention, the protective film forming agent preferably contains a mixture of a compound having a thiol group and an azole-based compound, and/or an azole-based compound having a thiol group. In the conducting members for fuel cells of the present invention, the acid treatment is preferably a treatment using sulfuric acid or nitric acid.

A method of making a treated article having a metal surface. The method includes treating the metal surface with a primer composition comprising a secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups to provide a primed metal surface and subsequently treating the primed metal surface with a treatment composition comprising a fluorinated compound represented by formula Rf{X[Si(Y).sub.3x(R).sub.x].sub.y}.sub.z. An article treated by such a method is also disclosed. The use of a secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups as a primer for a metal surface before treatment with the fluorinated silane and a method of treating a metal surface with a treatment composition including the secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups and certain fluorinated silanes are also disclosed.

A method of making a treated article having a metal surface. The method includes treating the metal surface with a primer composition comprising a secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups to provide a primed metal surface and subsequently treating the primed metal surface with a treatment composition comprising a fluorinated compound represented by formula Rf{X[Si(Y).sub.3x(R).sub.x].sub.y}.sub.z. An article treated by such a method is also disclosed. The use of a secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups as a primer for a metal surface before treatment with the fluorinated silane and a method of treating a metal surface with a treatment composition including the secondary or tertiary amino-functional compound having at least two independently selected silane groups and certain fluorinated silanes are also disclosed.

Forming a lithium lanthanum zirconate thin film includes disposing zirconium oxide on a substrate to yield a zirconium oxide coating, contacting the zirconium oxide coating with a solution including a lithium salt and a lanthanum salt, heating the substrate to yield a dried salt coating on the zirconium oxide coating, melting the dried salt coating to yield a molten salt mixture, reacting the molten salt mixture with the zirconium oxide coating to yield lithium lanthanum zirconate, and cooling the lithium lanthanum zirconate to yield a lithium lanthanum zirconate coating on the substrate. In some cases, the zirconium oxide coating is contacted with an aqueous molten salt mixture including a lithium salt and a lanthanum salt, the molten salt mixture is reacted with the zirconium oxide coating to yield lithium lanthanum zirconate, and the lithium lanthanum zirconate is cooled to yield a lithium lanthanum zirconate coating on the substrate.

Treatments for anodic coatings that provide improved resistance to staining and cracking during various manufacturing processes are described. According to some embodiments, the methods include placing the anodic coatings in partially sealed states by sealing only the outermost portions of the anodic coatings, which protect the outer surfaces of the anodic coatings from contamination and staining. Inner portions of the anodic coatings are left unsealed, thereby making the anodic coatings more compliant and resistant to cracking when exposed to manufacturing processes, even those that involve exposure to high temperatures or high mechanical stress. Subsequent to the processing, another sealing process can be implemented to fully seal the anodic coatings so that they provide good corrosion and wear resistance.

Disclosed herein are methods relating to the coloring of nickel-plated materials.

Provided is a surface treatment agent for a metal material with which it is possible to produce a surface-treated metal material that has excellent initial anti-rust properties without being coated with an anti-rust oil, excellent lubrication properties, and excellent anti-corrosion and adhesion properties in a coating film for which phosphate-based chemical conversion treatment, zirconium-based chemical conversion treatment, or other coating underlay processing is omitted. This surface treatment agent for a metal material contains: a zirconium compound; an aqueous epoxy resin having in the skeleton thereof a carboxyl-group-containing polymer that includes a repeated unit derived from a carboxyl-group-containing vinyl monomer, said aqueous epoxy resin also having an acid value of 5-50 mg KOH/g; and a hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Provided is a surface treatment agent for a metal material with which it is possible to produce a surface-treated metal material that has excellent initial anti-rust properties without being coated with an anti-rust oil, excellent lubrication properties, and excellent anti-corrosion and adhesion properties in a coating film for which phosphate-based chemical conversion treatment, zirconium-based chemical conversion treatment, or other coating underlay processing is omitted. This surface treatment agent for a metal material contains: a zirconium compound; an aqueous epoxy resin having in the skeleton thereof a carboxyl-group-containing polymer that includes a repeated unit derived from a carboxyl-group-containing vinyl monomer, said aqueous epoxy resin also having an acid value of 5-50 mg KOH/g; and a hydroxycarboxylic acid.