(19)

(11)

EP 1 088 119 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 23.12.2000 (43) Date of publication: 04.04.2001 Bulletin 2001/14 (21) Application number: 99930410.8 (22) Date of filing: 18.06.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C23F 1/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9913/827 (87) International publication number: WO 9966/104 (23.12.1999 Gazette 1999/51)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 19.06.1998 US 90017 P 18.06.1999 US 335676 (71) Applicant: Alcoa Inc. Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5858 (US)	(72) Inventors: NITOWSKI, Gary, A. Alcoa Center, PA 15069-0001 (US) COLBERT, Raymond, J. Alcoa Center, PA 15069-0001 (US) WEFERS, Karl Apollo, PA 15613 (US) ROUP, Daniel, D. Riverdale, IA 52722 (US) WIESERMAN, Larry, F. Alcoa Center, PA 15069-0001 (US) (74) Representative: Ebner von Eschenbach, Jennifer et al c/o Ladas & Parry,Dachauerstrasse 37 80335 München 80335 München (DE)