Grantee Research Project Results
Environmentally Benign Alternative to Chromate Conversion
EPA Contract Number: 68D40078Title: Environmentally Benign Alternative to Chromate Conversion
Investigators: Sunthankar, Mandar
Small Business: IonEdge Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1994 through January 1, 1997
Project Amount: $165,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1994) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Chromate conversion coatings are routinely applied to metals in the metal-finishing industry. The conversion process generates large quantities of hazardous hexavalent chromium and heavy-metal waste. In the Phase I of this research, an environmentally benign coating finish has been successfully plated as a suitable alternative to the chromate conversion. This benign coating has been applied using the unique dry plating process of IonEdge Corporation.The proposed Phase II plan will advance the alternative coating method to the point of commercialization. A unique, stand-alone apparatus will be developed for dry plating the benign material at a rate and throughput desirable in the commercial sector. This prototype could replace conventional chromating bath, and will not generate solid or liquid waste. The benign material will be plated on a variety of hardware components. Its resistivity, hardness, grain size and other properties will be studied for commercial applications. Successful demonstration of this dry plating will lead to substantial reduction of toxic waste in the metal-finishing industry.
Supplemental Keywords:
Hexavalent Chromium, Metals, Finishing, Plating, Chromating, Alternative., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Sustainable Industry/Business, National Recommended Water Quality, Chemical Engineering, air toxics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Chemistry, HAPS, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Engineering, 33/50, Environmental Engineering, hexavalent chromium, chromium & chromium compounds, chromate, Chromium, conversion coating, b Chromium VI, metal plating industry, metal finishing, dry plating , Chromium Compounds, chromium plating, alternative chromate conversion, environmentally benign alternativeProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Selective Elimination of Waste in a Metal Finishing OperationThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.