Background
Chromate conversion coatings (CCC) are applied to the surface of aluminum alloys to prevent corrosion; however, chromate is a known carcinogen. The United States and Europe have even banned the currently used CCCs, but the ban has been suspended for aerospace and defense industries since no replacement has been found; thus, the development of chromate-free and environmentally-friendly replacement coatings is currently being pursued.
Description
Our researchers at the University of Nevada Reno have developed a protective, dual-layered structure molybdenum-based conversion coating (MoCC) for aluminum alloys. Our MoCC improves the corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy and corrosion current is very close to that of CCCs. Our dual-layer structure is similar to CCCs and provides MoCCs with the self-healing ability that is characteristic of CCCs. Our technology can significantly benefit the aerospace and defense industries because of the many advantages described below.
Advantages
- Our coating is chromate-free (a known carcinogen)
- Our coatings are molybdate-based which is environmentally-friendly
- MoCC possess the ability to self-heal which is also characteristic of CCCs.
- Upon mechanical damage, our coating repassivates faster than CCCs
Related Documents
Patent:
UNR17-021
