A method for production of a flat steel product including at least the following steps, completed in a continuous process: providing a flat steel product, wherein a protective metal layer of Zn, a Zn—Al alloy, a Zn—Mg alloy or a Zn—Mg—Al alloy is applied to at least one side by hot dip coating; at least partly removing a native oxide layer present on the surface of the protective metal layer by wetting this surface with an acidic solution of sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid, nitric acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, nitrous acid or hydrofluoric acid; activating the surface of the protective metal layer by applying an aqueous activation solution to the surface of the protective metal layer; and phosphating the activated surface of the protective metal layer by applying an aqueous phosphating solution to the activated surface.

A method for production of a flat steel product including at least the following steps, completed in a continuous process: providing a flat steel product, wherein a protective metal layer of Zn, a Zn—Al alloy, a Zn—Mg alloy or a Zn—Mg—Al alloy is applied to at least one side by hot dip coating; at least partly removing a native oxide layer present on the surface of the protective metal layer by wetting this surface with an acidic solution of sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid, nitric acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, nitrous acid or hydrofluoric acid; activating the surface of the protective metal layer by applying an aqueous activation solution to the surface of the protective metal layer; and phosphating the activated surface of the protective metal layer by applying an aqueous phosphating solution to the activated surface.

Disclosed is a system for maintaining a pretreatment bath containing a pretreatment comprising a Group IVB metal. The system comprises an aqueous reducing agent comprising a metal cation and a latent source of sulfate which, upon reaction with a contaminant in the pretreatment bath, forms a metal sulfate. The contaminant comprises a nitrite source. The metal sulfate salt has a pKsp of 4.5 to 11 at a temperature of 25° C. Also disclosed is a method for maintaining a pretreatment bath containing a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal. The method comprises supplying the reducing agent to the pretreatment bath in an amount sufficient to reduce a pollution ratio of the pretreatment bath to less than 1:1. Also disclosed are substrates with a pretreatment bath maintained according to the system and method.

Disclosed is a system for maintaining a pretreatment bath containing a pretreatment comprising a Group IVB metal. The system comprises an aqueous reducing agent comprising a metal cation and a latent source of sulfate which, upon reaction with a contaminant in the pretreatment bath, forms a metal sulfate. The contaminant comprises a nitrite source. The metal sulfate salt has a pKsp of 4.5 to 11 at a temperature of 25° C. Also disclosed is a method for maintaining a pretreatment bath containing a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal. The method comprises supplying the reducing agent to the pretreatment bath in an amount sufficient to reduce a pollution ratio of the pretreatment bath to less than 1:1. Also disclosed are substrates with a pretreatment bath maintained according to the system and method.

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 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.

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.