(19)

(11)

EP 1 109 641 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 27.06.2001 Bulletin 2001/26 (21) Application number: 99932548.3 (22) Date of filing: 21.07.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B22F 9/16, C23C 14/24, C23C 14/26 (86) International application number: PCT/AU9900/588 (87) International publication number: WO 0005/017 (03.02.2000 Gazette 2000/05)

(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: 21.07.1998 AU PP624798 (71) Applicant: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION Campbell,ACT 2612 (AU)	(72) Inventor: HAIDAR, Jawad,Commonwealth Sci. & Ind. Res. Org. West Lindfield,Lindfield NSW 2070 (AU) (74) Representative: Brown, John David  FORRESTER & BOEHMERTFranz-Joseph-Strasse 38 80801 München 80801 München (DE)