Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A process for improving the surface cleanliness of sheet steel for stamping, comprising: (a) winding the sheet steel into coils with closely-packed turns; (b) before or during the winding of the steel sheet into coils with closely-packed turns as set out in step (a), and prior to subsequent annealing, depositing a porous silicate on the sheet steel and applying to the sheet steel which is contaminated with carbon-containing material as substance comprising an agent capable of reacting with carbon present on the surface of the sheet as a contaminant so as to form a volatile carbon compound with said carbon contaminate during subsequent annealing of the closely-packed coils of the sheet steel, said silicate thereafter gelling, holding said agent to react with the carbon; (c) annealing the closely-packed coils of the sheet steel treated as in step (b) whereby the carbon contaminate is converted into a volatile carbon compound by reaction with said agent and is removed, thereby producing a sheet steel having a surface of enhanced cleanliness in being essentially carbon-free; and (d) subjecting the sheet steel having a carbon-free surface obtained in step (c) to stamping operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A process for improving the surface cleanliness of sheet steel for stamping, comprising: (a) winding the sheet steel into coils with closely-packed turns; (b) before or during the winding of the steel sheet into coils with closely-packed turns as set out in step (a), and prior to subsequent annealing, depositing a porous silicate on the sheet steel and applying to the sheet steel which is contaminated with carbon-containing material as substance comprising an agent capable of reacting with carbon present on the surface of the sheet as a contaminant so as to form a volatile carbon compound with said carbon contaminate during subsequent annealing of the closely-packed coils of the sheet steel, said silicate thereafter gelling, holding said agent to react with the carbon; (c) annealing the closely-packed coils of the sheet steel treated as in step (b) whereby the carbon contaminate is converted into a volatile carbon compound by reaction with said agent and is removed, thereby producing a sheet steel having a surface of enhanced cleanliness in being essentially carbon-free; and (d) subjecting the sheet steel having a carbon-free surface obtained in step (c) to stamping operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the silicate is deposited by immersion or spraying at the outlet of a rolling mill, deposition then being followed by rinsing in water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as claimed in claim 2, in which the silicate is deposited in the form of a solution of a soluble silicate or aluminate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process as claimed in claim 3, in which the soluble silicate is sodium ortho-silicate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as claimed in claim 2, in which the deposition of the silicate is followed by rinsing with water having a pH value of between 6.5 and 7.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the porous silicate is deposited to a thickness of not more than a few nanometres.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the silicate is obtained and deposited in a continuous manner by electrolysis, the sheet steel being charged alternately positive and negative with respect to the bath.