Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of treating an as-cast, hot-dipped aluminum-zinc alloy coated ferrous product to improve the ductility of the coating, said as-cast coating comprising by weight, 25 to 70% aluminum, balance essentially zinc with a small addition of silicon, and a structure having (1) an alloy overlay of cored aluminum-rich dendrites and zinc-rich interdendritic constituents, and (2) an intermetallic layer intermediate said overlay and the ferrous base, characterized by the steps of thermally treating said coated ferrous product by heating to a temperature between about 200° F. (93° C.) and 800° F. (427° C.) and holding at said temperature for a minimum of time as calculated by the following equation: ##EQU2## where t=time in seconds, and T=heating temperature in °K; and cooling to ambient temperature at a rate to precipitate incoherent, overaged second phase particles in said overlay.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of treating an as-cast, hot-dipped aluminum-zinc alloy coated ferrous product to improve the ductility of the coating, said as-cast coating comprising by weight, 25 to 70% aluminum, balance essentially zinc with a small addition of silicon, and a structure having (1) an alloy overlay of cored aluminum-rich dendrites and zinc-rich interdendritic constituents, and (2) an intermetallic layer intermediate said overlay and the ferrous base, characterized by the steps of thermally treating said coated ferrous product by heating to a temperature between about 200° F. (93° C.) and 800° F. (427° C.) and holding at said temperature for a minimum of time as calculated by the following equation: ##EQU2## where t=time in seconds, and T=heating temperature in °K; and cooling to ambient temperature at a rate to precipitate incoherent, overaged second phase particles in said overlay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said heating temperature is below about 400° F. (205° C.).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of producing an aluminum-zinc alloy coated ferrous product to improve the ductility of the coating, said as-cast coating comprising (1) an alloy overlay of cored aluminum-rich dendrites and zinc-rich interdendritic constituents, and (2) an intermetallic layer intermediate said overlay and the ferrous base, characterized by the steps of thermally treating said coated ferrous product by heating to a temperature between about 400° F. (205° C.) and 800° F. (427° C.) and holding at said temperature for a minimum of time as calculated by the following equation: ##EQU3## where t=time in seconds, and T=heating temperature in °K; cooling from said temperature at a rate no faster than about 1° F./minute down to 400° F. (205° C.), and thereafter cooling to ambient temperature at a rate to precipitate incoherent overaged second phase particles in said overlay.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of producing an aluminum-zinc alloy coated ferrous product to improve the ductility of the coating, said as-cast coating comprising (1) an alloy overlay of cored aluminum-rich dendrites and zinc-rich interdendritic constituents, and (2) an intermetallic layer intermediate said overlay and the ferrous base, characterized by the steps of thermally treating said coated ferrous product by heating to a temperature between about 400° F. (205° C.) and 800° F. (427° C.) and holding at said temperature for a minimum of time as calculated by the following equation: ##EQU3## where t=time in seconds, and T=heating temperature in °K; cooling from said temperature at a rate no faster than about 1° F./minute down to 400° F. (205° C.), and thereafter cooling to ambient temperature at a rate to precipitate incoherent overaged second phase particles in said overlay.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 3, characterized in that said aluminum-zinc alloy comprises, by weight, 25 to 70% aluminum, balance essentially zinc with a small addition of silicon.