1. A method for preparing a workpiece for plating comprising:
heat-soaking the workpiece for thermal removal of residue therefrom; and
blasting the residue-free workpiece with garnet grit.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat-soaking further comprises heating the workpiece at about 400\xb0 C. for about 8 hours.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the garnet grit is about 120 mesh.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising submerging the workpiece in hot ammonia.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the hot ammonia has a concentration of about 0.06 to 0.10% in water.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the workpiece is submerged in the hot ammonia at temperatures of about 60\xb0 C. to about 75\xb0 C. for about 0.5 to about 1.5 hours.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the workpiece is iron bearing.
8. A method of protective coating a workpiece comprising:
preparing the workpiece using the method of claim 1; and
nickel coating the workpiece using electroless nickel coating.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the nickel coating is performed in a tank containing a nickel solution, further comprising heating the nickel solution to about 90\xb0 C.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
circulating the nickel solution through an indirect heat exchanger; and
circulating hot water to the indirect heat exchanger for heating the nickel solution.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising recirculating the nickel solution through a filter.
12. The method of claim 8 comprising applying a polymer sealer over the nickel coating.
13. The method of claim 8 comprising applying a fluoropolymer sealer over the nickel coating.
14. The method of claim 8 comprising applying a sealer comprising a dispersion of a PTFE fluoropolymer.
15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
storing the nickel solution in a carbon steel tank.
lining the carbon steel tank with a plastic liner for storing the nickel solution separated from the carbon steel tank.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
extending the liner over a top edge of the tank; and
arranging one or more bumpers between the tank and the workpiece for protecting the liner from damage.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
providing a plurality of the bumpers; and
arranging one or more of the plurality of bumpers between the tank and the workpiece.
18. Apparatus for electroless nickel plating of a workpiece comprising:
a carbon steel tank; and
a plastic liner for storing a nickel solution separated from the carbon steel tank.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising one or more bumpers for arrangement between the tank and the workpiece for protecting the liner from damage.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:
an indirect heat exchanger;
a hot water heater;
a hot water circulation loop between the hot water heater and the indirect heat exchanger; and
a nickel solution circulation loop between the tank and the indirect heat exchanger.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-9. (canceled)
10. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising an effective amount of crystalline fexofenadine hydrochloride hydrate having a PXRD pattern with peaks at 10.1, 15.2, 18.6, 19.2, 20.1\xb10.2 degrees two theta, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
11. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, further comprising pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.
12. A method of inhibiting binding between an H1 receptor and histamine in a patient suffering from contraction of the bronchi, vasodilation, itching or other inflammation response to histamine comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition of claim 10.
13-50. (canceled)
51. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, wherein the crystalline form has a water content of from about 6% to about 10% by weight.
52. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 51, wherein the crystalline form has about 10% water by weight.
53. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, wherein the crystalline form with said PXRD peaks is substantially stable under storage at relative humidity of about 100% for at least about 1 week, and storage at about 40\xb0 C. and about a 75% relative humidity for at least about 6 months.
54. (canceled)
55. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, wherein the crystalline form is characterized by a DSC profile with two endothermic peaks at a temperature range of up to about 125\xb0 C. and an additional endotherm at a temperature of about 135\xb0 C.
56. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 55, wherein one of the two endothermic peaks is at a temperature of about 67\xb0 C. and the other at a temperature of about 120\xb0 C.
57. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, wherein the crystalline form is characterized by a DSC thermogram as substantially depicted in FIG. 2.
58. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, wherein the crystalline form is further characterized by a PXRD pattern with peaks at 5.2, 15.5, 17.0, 17.3, 19.6, 21.7, 22.5, 23.2, 24.0, 24.3, 25.6\xb10.2 degrees two theta.
59. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10, wherein the crystalline form is characterized by a PXRD pattern as substantially depicted in FIG. 1.
60. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10 substantially free of other polymorphic forms of fexofenadine hydrochloride.
61. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10 having less than about 2% by weight of other polymorphic forms of fexofenadine hydrochloride.
62. A method for preparing a pharmaceutical formulation comprising combining crystalline fexofenadine hydrochloride hydrate having a PXRD pattern with peaks at 10.1, 15.2, 18.6, 19.2, 20.1\xb10.2 degrees two theta with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
63. A pharmaceutical formulation prepared by the method of claim 62.