To meet the needs of the aerospace surface treatment companies who are trying to eliminate hexavalent chrome from their surface treatment processes before September 2017 (current estimated schedule for REACH regulations), SOCOMORE is proposing a new patented technology for conversion and sealing of surfaces after anodizing, that could be used for the pretreatment of painted and unpainted parts.
At the beginning of April 2014, Socomore signed a license agreement with MECAPROTEC Industries (www.mecaprotec.fr), a specialist in surface treatment for the aerospace industry. This agreement encompasses the manufacturing and commercialization by Socomore of a new conversion and sealing solution after anodizing, free of hexavalent chrome (Cr VI) and patented by MECAPROTEC.
Based on a Trivalent Chrome Process (TCP), this technology is a solution for aerospace manufacturers, subcontractors and other industries who have been trying for several years now to replace their Cr VI based chemical conversion and sealing baths with an equivalent process.
The compliance with the REACH European regulation (see figure 1) is likely to have repercussions outside of Europe because surface treatment companies are using products that are globally approved by main aircraft OEMs.
- European OEMs that will approve a new Cr VI free process could require its use within their plants and at their partner's/subcontractors in Europe, but also worldwide.
- Non-European OEMs may produce or subcontract the production of parts in Europe. The production of these parts and its associated processes are subject to REACH regulations. This could encourage OEMs to approve new Cr VI free process and the worldwide implementation for their part production.
Socomore is now offering a two bath technology (
see figure 2) within its range of SOCOSURF products intended for surface treatment:
- A conversion bath: SOCOSURF TCS.
- A passivation bath: SOCOSURF PACS.
These two baths can be used either for:
- Conversion operations on aluminum or magnesium alloys.
- Sealing operations after anodizing on aluminum anodizing, regardless of the anodizing type.
The use of the same process for these two operations represents a first advantage compared with the existing solutions (
see figure 3). As a second advantage, this process allows the use of the same conversion and sealing baths after anodizing for painted and unpainted parts.
The surface layer formed by the chemical conversion operation and anodizing process provides a long lasting protection against oxidation and reinforces paint adhesion. The sealing operation after anodizing enables the reduction of porosity of the anodized layer formed, to further reinforce the anti-corrosive protection.
For more information: www.socomore.com
//Fig. 1: REACH calendar.
Fig. 2: Full process for SOCOSURF TCS / PACS.
Fig. 3: Conversion with Trivalent Chrome.//