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Method for producing bright stainless steel

Assignee: Allegheny Ludlum Corp
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Filing: 1983-07-29
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Granted: 1984-05-22
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Expires: 2003-07-29
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Abstract

Abstract A method for producing bright surface quality stainless steel strip by continuous annealing cold-rolled strip in air followed by electrolytically descaling said annealed strip by making the strip the anode and applying electric current to the strip while the strip is in an electrolyte consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one neutral salt which may be a chloride, sulfate or nitrate or an alkali metal, including aluminum, with the pH of the electrolyte being maintained between 1 and 7. In this manner, a scale-free, bright annealed-like surface is produced after air annealing without requiring annealing in a controlled atmosphere furnace.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul T. Lovejoy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 18:54
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25F; C25F1/00; C25F1/02; C25F1/04; C25F1/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for processing stainless steel strip after cold rolling to produce a scale-free, bright surface, said method comprising continuously annealing said strip in air, then descaling said annealed strip by making said annealed strip an anode and applying electric current to said strip with said strip in an electrolyte consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one neutral salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, sulfate and nitrate of an alkali metal including ammonium with the pH of said electrolyte being maintained between 1 and 7.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for processing stainless steel strip after cold rolling to produce a scale-free, bright surface, said method comprising continuously annealing said strip in air, then descaling said annealed strip by making said annealed strip an anode and applying electric current to said strip with said strip in an electrolyte consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one neutral salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, sulfate and nitrate of an alkali metal including ammonium with the pH of said electrolyte being maintained between 1 and 7.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said neutral alkali metal salt is sodium sulfate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said annealing is conducted within the temperature range of 1350° to 2000° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said annealing is conducted within the temperature range of 1350° to 1650° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said current is applied at a current density of 0.1 to 0.5 amperes per square inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said current is applied for 10 to 120 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the electrolyte is 120° to 145° F.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for processing stainless steel strip after cold rolling to produce a scale-free, bright surface, said method comprising continuously annealing said strip in air and following said annealing, descaling said annealed strip by making said annealed strip an anode and applying electric current at a current density of 0.1 to 0.5 amperes per square inch to said strip for 10 to 120 seconds with said strip in an electrolyte consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate with the pH of said solution being maintained between 2 and 3.5, and the electrolyte temperature ranging from 120° to 140° F.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for processing stainless steel strip after cold rolling to produce a scale-free, bright surface, said method comprising continuously annealing said strip in air and following said annealing, descaling said annealed strip by making said annealed strip an anode and applying electric current at a current density of 0.1 to 0.5 amperes per square inch to said strip for 10 to 120 seconds with said strip in an electrolyte consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate with the pH of said solution being maintained between 2 and 3.5, and the electrolyte temperature ranging from 120° to 140° F.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3043758A Cited
US3025225A Cited
US3642586A Cited
US4012299A Cited
US4363709A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-22 1987-11-21 1988-05-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-22 1991-11-21 1992-05-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-22 1995-11-21 1996-05-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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