In a coating process wherein a radiation- curable coating composition is applied to a surface and the composition is radiation cured to polymerize and cross-link the com- position to form a coating, the improvement comprising providing a proton affinitive in- dicator substance in the composition capable of reacting with other substances in the com- position during polymerization and cross- linking of the composition; providing an ion mobility spectrometer having a suction head and a gas inlet, disposing the suction head over the coating; drawing in a sample of gas phase above the coating into the gas inlet; and analyzing the drawn-in sample by ion mobility spectroscopy to detect the indicator substance escaping from the coating to thereby indicate a measure of a content of noncross-linked migrating polymerizable components of the composition in the coating and thereby the degree of the coating process.

Process for the Production of a Multicoat Refinish u.s. Patent 5,683,745. Nov. 4, 1997 H. Liedtke et al., assignors to BASF Lacke + Farben, AG, Muenster-Hiltrup, Germany

A process for the production of a mul- ticoat refinish of a damage site compris-

ing preparing the damage site by clean- ing, sanding, and, optionally, applying a filler, and preparing areas bearing the old finish that are adjacent to the damage site by a pretreatment; applying a basecoat composition containing metallic pig- ments and/or special-effect pigments by spraying; forming a polymer film from the applied basecoat composition; apply- ing a transparent topcoat composition to the resulting basecoat and, optionally, to adjacent areas bearing the old finish not coated with a basecoat; and subsequently drying the topcoat together with the basecoat at temperatures between ambi- ent and 140°C.

Treatment of Sheet Steel Coated with Zinc U.S. Patent 5,683,751. Nov. 4, 1997 H. Derule and J. Steinmetz, assignors to Sollac, Puteaux, France

A process for surface treatment of a sheet steel wholly or partially coated with a layer of zinc or zinc alloy, in which the surface is treated with an aqueous corro- sion-inhibiting solution and optionally oil is applied to the dried film thereon, wherein the aqueous solution comprises at least one

alkaline earth metal or alkali metal ali- phatic monocarboxylic acid salt, at least one of a triazole or diazole hydrocarbon, and at least one nonionic surfactant, and the pH is at a value below 7.

Gold Plating of Zinc Substrates u.s. Patent 5,683,756. Nov. 4, 1997 J.W. Tanner et eL, assignors to Batesville Casket Co. Inc., Batesville, Ind.

A method of plating a zinc substrate with gold comprising applying a paint basecoat to at least one precleaned surface of a zinc substrate; curing the paint basecoat; plating gold onto the paint basecoat by vacuum met- allization to form a gold plating; applying a paint topcoat over the gold plating; and cur- ing the paint topcoat.

Passivation Process for Zinc and Aluminum u.s. Patent 5,683,816. Nov. 4, 1997 B.H. Goodreau, assignor to Henkel Corp., Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

An aqueous liquid composition suitable for use either directly as such or after dilution with water to passivate a metallic surface that consists predominantly of aluminum, zinc, or

T e c h n i c "s P l a t i n u m C l a d A n o " Providing longer anode life with results equal to solid platinum at significant savings.

Anode materials cross sections (500x)

Pl~Jnum Clad PlaOnum E~ectroplated

Expanded Mesh ~/~" diamond shaped openings in widths up to 6"

Woven Material Clad wire woven in a 10 x 10 mesh pattern available in widths up to 36"

Wire and Rod Available in a wide variety of diameters,lengths and shapes.

Conforming anodes made on request

• Lower Cost

• Permanent metallurgical bond

• Longer life than electroplated anodes

• Excellent for high voltage applications

• Ideal for cathodic protection

• Perfect forpreclous metal electroplating and accountability

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