(19)

(11)

EP 1 966 396 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 10.09.2008 Bulletin 2008/37 (21) Application number: 07855297.3 (22) Date of filing: 20.12.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C21D 1/06(2006.01) C23C 8/22(2006.01) C21D 1/76(2006.01) C23C 8/32(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/088358 (87) International publication number: WO 2008/083033 (10.07.2008 Gazette 2008/28)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA HR MK RS (30) Priority: 26.12.2006 US 645447 19.12.2007 US 959825 (71) Applicant: Praxair Technology, Inc. Danbury, CT 06810 (US)	(72) Inventors: CONNERY, Karen, Anne Westmont, IL 60559 (US) NOVAK, Richard, A. Naperville, IL 60564 (US) HO, Simon Naperville, IL 60564 (US) GUPTA, Amitabh Naperville, IL 60564 (US) DE WILDE, Robert, Marcel B-9100 St. Niklaas (BE) (74) Representative: Schwan - Schwan - Schorer  Patentanwälte Bauerstrasse 22 80796 München 80796 München (DE)