Method for directly enameling steel parts using a single enamel coating

A method for the direct white enameling of steel parts using a single enamel coating particularly suited for the direct white enameling of steel parts of the type comprising steel sheets of aluminum stabilized continuously cast sheet material, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a single coating of an enamel slurry to the surface of the steel part to be enameled;
• drying the slurry on the slurry coated steel part;
• degasifying substantially simultaneously the slurry and the steel part coated with the slurry by heating the slurry coated steel part to a degasifying temperature which degasification temperature is at a temperature less than the firing temperature of the enamel coating wherein the slurry coated steel part is held within the degasifying temperature range of 680.degree. C. to 760.degree. C. for two(2) to six(6) minutes to diffuse hydrogen gas from the steel part and the slurry coating, said diffused hydrogen gas passing from the steel part through the unfired enamel slurry coating to the atmosphere;
• preventing the heated enamel slurry coated steel part from being cooled after the degasifying step and prior to an enamel firing step;
• firing the degasified enamel slurry coating on the degasified steel part by increasing the temperature of the degasified enamel slurry coated steel part to the enamel firing temperature;
• maintaining the temperature of the slurry coated steel part at the enamel firing temperature of 800.degree. C. for a time period sufficient to fire the single enamel coating, and
• cooling the fired enamel coated steel part wherein the temperature of the fired enamel coated steel part is lowered from the enamel firing temperature to a lower cooling temperature during a predetermined cooling time interval.