Coatings & Surface Engineering News

Because of the health concerns with hexavalent chromium (see above), Air Force Research Laboratory scientists have developed a non-chromate-based aluminum conversion coating. Known as AC-131BB, the sol-gel-based coating is a mixture of zirconium alkoxide and a silane coupling agent. Researchers are currently evaluating the corrosion performance on a KC-135 and F-15 aircraft.

Some coatings, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), use a vacuum during processing. So, what is a vacuum and how is it measured? Dan Herring, the "Heat Treat Doctor," explains some of the basics in Industrial Heating magazine. The article describes vacuum terminology, including the numerous measuring units used, and provides a handy conversion chart.

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, was created to promote reduction in the use of toxic chemicals and the generation of toxic by-products in industry and commerce. Much of their work is in the area of cleaning technology. Since 1994, their Surface Solutions Laboratory has conducted more than 1,000 cleaning trials for more than 240 companies evaluating nearly 450 cleaning formulations. View some of their recent research projects.

Traditional solvent degreasing is giving way to environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions. Among these, ultrasonic technology offers a number of benefits over water-based, semi-aqueous, and petroleum-based chemistries. An in-depth paper describes all aspects of ultrasonic cleaning, from theory to equipment to practical applications.

Like a police investigation, root-cause-failure analysis requires a high level of evidence — more so than troubleshooting, brainstorming, and problem solving techniques. Robert Latino, executive vice president for Reliability Center Inc., describes the "Five Ps" of evidence-gathering: parts, position, people, place, and paradigm.

John Grey of Fastener Consulting Services, investigates fastener failures for a living. Here are 26 case studies he developed for the journal Fastener Technology International. Each describes a unique problem, documents the observations and investigation, and summarizes the situation with conclusions and recommendations.

Viewers of the well-known television series, American Choppers, know that many customized chopper parts are machined from aluminum. Though soft, aluminum still requires a good lubricant for proper cutting. In this Tooling & Production report, the design staff describes their selection of machining coolants/lubricants for blemish-free intricate parts.

The forging process is tough on dies and current lubrication systems often rely on visual monitoring and control. See how Coating Management Technologies worked with Impact Forge Group to reduce lubricant consumption and expense, as well as pollution, by 80%. (Their secret: programmable logic controllers).

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