Disclosed herein is an aqueous composition having a pH value at 55° C. in the range from 5 to 9, containing at least two different amino organophosphonic acid derivatives of formula (I)

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where residues R independently of each other are CH.sub.2—PO(OR″).sub.2, residues R′ independently of each other are alkylene residues with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, residues R″ independently of each other are H, Na, K, Li or NH.sub.4; and n is an integer from 0 to 4; and where the at least two different amino organophosphonic acid derivatives differ in the value of n. 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 disclosure provides methods for forming sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one method of forming a sol-gel includes mixing a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent to form a first mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the first mixture. The method includes mixing an organosilane with the first mixture to form a second mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the second mixture.

The present disclosure provides methods for forming sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one method of forming a sol-gel includes mixing a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent to form a first mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the first mixture. The method includes mixing an organosilane with the first mixture to form a second mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the second mixture.

A novel method of blackening surgical needles is disclosed. Surgical needles having outer surfaces are first placed into a first pretreatment bath having a novel composition. The needles are then placed into a second blackening bath having a novel composition for a sufficient period of time to effectively blacken the surfaces of the needles. The novel methods for blackening the surfaces of a stainless steel alloy surgical needle provide a chromium (VI)-free alternative to current needle manufacturing processes. Another unique feature of this novel method is its short processing time. The blackening processes of the present invention can be utilized for in-line treatment processes which can be easily incorporated into high speed needle manufacturing processes, such as strip mounted processes. In addition, the processes of the present invention are readily adaptable to batch processes. Also disclosed are novel systems for blackening surgical needles and novel blackening baths for surgical needles.

A novel method of blackening surgical needles is disclosed. Surgical needles having outer surfaces are first placed into a first pretreatment bath having a novel composition. The needles are then placed into a second blackening bath having a novel composition for a sufficient period of time to effectively blacken the surfaces of the needles. The novel methods for blackening the surfaces of a stainless steel alloy surgical needle provide a chromium (VI)-free alternative to current needle manufacturing processes. Another unique feature of this novel method is its short processing time. The blackening processes of the present invention can be utilized for in-line treatment processes which can be easily incorporated into high speed needle manufacturing processes, such as strip mounted processes. In addition, the processes of the present invention are readily adaptable to batch processes. Also disclosed are novel systems for blackening surgical needles and novel blackening baths for surgical needles.

A component (1) is disclosed which has a black oxide layer (10), wherein metallic additive elements (4) are incorporated in the structure of the black oxide layer (10). Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a component (1) is disclosed, said method comprising the steps of: depositing metallic additive elements (4) on the component (1) and immersing the component (1) with the deposited metallic additive elements (4) in a black oxide solution (6), wherein the metallic additive elements (4) are incorporated into the structure of the black oxide layer (10).

A bearing component includes a black-oxide layer having metallic additional elements integrated in the structure of the black-oxide layer. Also a method of forming such a black-oxide layer that includes immersing the bearing component in a bath having the metallic additional element prior to immersing the bearing component in a black oxidation solution.

The present invention is directed towards an aqueous alkaline cleaner composition comprising: an iron cation, a molybdenum cation, a cobalt cation, or combinations thereof; and an alkaline component; wherein the pH of the aqueous alkaline composition is at least 10, and the aqueous alkaline composition includes no more than 50 ppm of phosphate. Also disclosed are treatment systems comprising an aqueous alkaline composition for treating at least a portion of a substrate, and a pretreatment composition for treating at least a portion of a substrate. Also disclosed are substrates treated according to the disclosed treatment systems.

The present invention is directed towards an aqueous alkaline cleaner composition comprising: an iron cation, a molybdenum cation, a cobalt cation, or combinations thereof; and an alkaline component; wherein the pH of the aqueous alkaline composition is at least 10, and the aqueous alkaline composition includes no more than 50 ppm of phosphate. Also disclosed are treatment systems comprising an aqueous alkaline composition for treating at least a portion of a substrate, and a pretreatment composition for treating at least a portion of a substrate. Also disclosed are substrates treated according to the disclosed treatment systems.

The present invention relates to: a rust-proofing treatment method comprising the step of treating an object that comprises a metal or an alloy and is heated to a temperature higher than 180° C. or an object that has, formed on the surface thereof, a film or layer comprising a metal or an alloy and is heated to a temperature higher than 180° C. with an aqueous solution containing an inorganic acid or an inorganic salt, or comprising the step of treating an object comprising a metal or an alloy or an object having, formed on the surface thereof, a film or layer comprising a metal or an alloy with an aqueous solution containing at least one component selected from silicic acid, a silicic acid salt, phosphoric acid, a phosphoric acid salt, a monohydrogen phosphate salt, a dihydrogen phosphate salt and a zirconium salt; and an article characterized by being rust-proofing-treated by the rust-proofing treatment method.