Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A ferrous metal sheet having on a surface thereof a zinc-aluminum alloy continuous hot-dip coating consisting essentially of between about 0.2 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. % and about 0.15 wt. % antimony and a maximum of about 0.02 wt. % lead with the balance essentially zinc, and said alloy coating characterized by having a smooth bright ripple-free surface which is resistant to intergranular corrosion and blistering along grain boundaries when exposed for prolonged periods to a high humidity atmosphere, and said coating being formable without having the coating separate from the sheet both before and after prolonged exposure to said high humidity atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A ferrous metal sheet having on a surface thereof a zinc-aluminum alloy continuous hot-dip coating consisting essentially of between about 0.2 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. % and about 0.15 wt. % antimony and a maximum of about 0.02 wt. % lead with the balance essentially zinc, and said alloy coating characterized by having a smooth bright ripple-free surface which is resistant to intergranular corrosion and blistering along grain boundaries when exposed for prolonged periods to a high humidity atmosphere, and said coating being formable without having the coating separate from the sheet both before and after prolonged exposure to said high humidity atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A ferrous metal sheet as in claim 1, wherein said alloy coating contains about 0.2 wt. % aluminum, about 0.1 wt. % antimony and about 0.01 wt. % lead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ferrous metal sheet as in claim 1 wherein said alloy coating contains between about 4 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A ferrous metal sheet as in claim 1, wherein said alloy coating contains about 5 wt. % aluminum, about 0.1 wt. % antimony and about 0.01 wt. % lead, and is further characterized by the absence of conventional surface spangles and having a sub-surface which has polygonal grain boundaries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A hot-dip coating bath consisting essentially of between about 0.2 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. % and about 0.15 wt. % antimony and a maximum of about 0.02 wt. % lead with the balance essentially zinc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A hot-dip coating bath consisting essentially of between about 0.2 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. % and about 0.15 wt. % antimony and a maximum of about 0.02 wt. % lead with the balance essentially zinc.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hot-dip coating bath as in claim 5, wherein said coating bath contains 0.2 wt. % aluminum, about 0.1 wt. % antimony and about 0.01 wt. % lead.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hot-dip coating bath as in claim 5, wherein said coating bath contains between about 4 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hot-dip coating bath as in claim 5, wherein said bath contains about 5 wt. % aluminum, about 0.1 wt. % antimony and about 0.01 wt. % lead.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of providing a ferrous metal sheet with a smooth bright ripple-free continuous hot-dip coating which is highly resistant to intergranular corrosion and blistering along grain boundaries when exposed to a hot humid atmosphere comprising; continuously passing an endless ferrous metal sheet through a hot-dip coating bath comprised essentially of between about 0.2 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. % and about 0.15 wt. % antimony and a maximum of about 0.02 wt. % lead with the balance being essentially zinc, and said bath containing said antimony in an amount which reduces the surface tension of said bath such that said smooth bright ripple-free coating is formed as said sheet is continuously withdrawn from said bath.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of providing a ferrous metal sheet with a smooth bright ripple-free continuous hot-dip coating which is highly resistant to intergranular corrosion and blistering along grain boundaries when exposed to a hot humid atmosphere comprising; continuously passing an endless ferrous metal sheet through a hot-dip coating bath comprised essentially of between about 0.2 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. % and about 0.15 wt. % antimony and a maximum of about 0.02 wt. % lead with the balance being essentially zinc, and said bath containing said antimony in an amount which reduces the surface tension of said bath such that said smooth bright ripple-free coating is formed as said sheet is continuously withdrawn from said bath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said coating bath contains about 0.2 wt. % aluminum, about 0.1 wt. % antimony and about 0.01 wt. % lead.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said coating bath contains between about 4 wt. % and about 17 wt. % aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said coating bath contains about 5% by wt. aluminum, about 0.1 wt. % antimony and about 0.01 wt. % lead.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said metal sheet is clean and free of surface oxides when immersed in said bath.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said metal sheet passes between jets of blowing gas as said metal sheet is continuously withdrawn from said bath.