Alternative to chrome plating scores high on corrosion resistance

Alternative to chrome plating scores high on corrosion resistance

Keywords Chrome plate, Vapour deposition

Chrome plating is one of the most common inorganic methods for protecting materials from corrosion, but current application methods have proved to be environmentally hazardous because of the toxic chemicals and byproducts involved.

Recent preliminary tests of a chromate conversion coating applied by a frame-assisted thin film deposition method are showing superior peformance to chrome-plated samples,while using environmentally friendly chemicals and non-toxic byproducts.

Developed by MicroCoating Technologies (MCT), the low-cost thin film coating is deposited using the open atmospheric combustion chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) process. The patented process can be performed under ambient conditions without the need for specialized equipment, environments, or chemicals.

Materials such as ceramics, metals, and multi-compound materials can be safely coated in the open atmosphere, allowing portable production capabilities that enable coverage of large or irregular surface areas, including assembled parts that would be difficult to place inside a traditional coating chamber.

In a recent test conducted by Battelle (Columbus, Ohio), the thin film coating was deposited via the CCVD process on an aluminium-coated steel panel and exposed to a 5 percent neutral salt fog in an ASTM B117 chamber.

After 1,344 hours, there was no evidence of oxidation products or pitting of the underlying aluminium. The coating surpassed the coating resistance requirements specified in Mi1-C-83488, which stipulates that there be no corrosion of the base metal after 672 hours.

MCT has an exclusive world-wide license from the Georgia Tech Research Corp. to commercialize the CCVD process.

For further details contact Jeff Moore, MCT, 3901 Green Industrial Way, Chamblee, Georgia 30341,USA. Phone: +1770 457 8400.