United States. A team at the University of Nevada developed a new environmentally friendly coating for aluminum that seeks to replace chromate coatings used in aerospace applications. Chromate conversion coatings have been used for more than 50 years to protect aluminum from corrosion.
The researchers conducted more than 300 tests on coatings before finding the ideal formulation. They used a set of advanced surface analytical techniques such as Raman microspectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and photoelectron X-ray spectroscopy, to conclusively demonstrate the presence of molybdate in the striped region. In addition, using electrochemical tests, the team showed the same self-protected layer through scratch-proof self-healing.
This development was presented during a conference held in Hawaii, where it was assured that although the use of chromates for consumer and automotive applications has been banned, it is still in use by the defense and aerospace industries in various exemptions.
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