Methods for dulling metallic surfaces and related products
AssigneeSan Diego Gas & Electric Company
InventorDenis Scott Sanford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various dulling processes for dulling metallic surfaces are disclosed to produce or render galvanized metallic surfaces less shiny. Particular embodiments of dulling galvanized metallic surfaces, such as galvanized steel, iron, and aluminum surfaces, and processes are disclosed to treat galvanized objects for color variation or enhancement while still maintaining protection provided by the galvanized layer. The present disclosure is also directed to apparatus, product and system having dulled surfaces formed by the disclosed dulling processes.
Claims20
A process for dulling a galvanized metal object comprising the steps:
- obtaining a non-passivated galvanized metal object in at least two attachable sections including a first section and a second section;
- cleaning the galvanized metal object in a first bath comprising alkali salts, surfactants, water and an acidic accelerator;
- rinsing the galvanized metal object in a water bath;
- soaking the galvanized metal object in a dulling bath comprising zinc phosphate and acid for at least 120 seconds to produce a treated galvanized metal object;
- and
- measuring the treated galvanized metal object with a spectrophotometer to obtain a value and wherein the value is 56 or less.
A tower for carrying electrical conductors comprising:
- an upstanding body having at least one support arm extending laterally of the body;
- said body and said at least one support arm being galvanized with a zinc-based material;
- said body and said at least one support arm being dulled and having a spectrophotometer reading of 56 or less produced by a dulling process comprising:
- cleaning the body and the at least one support arm in a first bath comprising alkali salts, surfactants, water and an acidic accelerator;
- and
- soaking the body and the at least one support arm in a dulling bath comprising zinc phosphate and acid for about 120 seconds to about 720 seconds.
A method of blending a metal structure to the environment comprising:
- obtaining a galvanized metal object;
- cleaning the galvanized metal object in a first bath comprising alkali salts, surfactants, water and an acidic accelerator;
- soaking the galvanized metal object in a dulling bath comprising zinc phosphate and acid for at least 120 seconds to produce a treated galvanized metal object;
- and
- installing the treated galvanized metal object in an exposed environment;
- and
- wherein the treated galvanized metal object has a spectrophotometer value of 56 or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.