(19)

(11)

EP 4 069 886 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 12.10.2022 Bulletin 2022/41 (21) Application number: 20812340.6 (22) Date of filing: 30.11.2020

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C23C 22/00(2006.01) B21B 45/02(2006.01) B21C 43/00(2006.01) B65G 45/10(2006.01) C25D 21/08(2006.01) B08B 3/02(2006.01) B21B 45/06(2006.01) B65G 39/00(2006.01) C23G 3/02(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): C23G 3/029; C23C 22/00; B08B 3/022; B21C 43/00; B21C 43/04; B08B 3/041; C23G 3/023 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2020/083825 (87) International publication number: WO 2021/110567 (10.06.2021 Gazette 2021/23)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 03.12.2019 EP 19213215 (71) Applicant: Tata Steel IJmuiden B.V. 1951 JZ Velsen-Noord (NL)	(72) Inventor: MIEDEMA, Jacob 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL) (74) Representative: Group Intellectual Property Services  c/o Tata Steel Nederland Technology B.V. P.O. Box 10000 - 3G.37 1970 CA IJmuiden 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL)