Environmentally and Occupationally Safer Hard Chrome Plating
EPA Contract Number: 68D98124Title: Environmentally and Occupationally Safer Hard Chrome Plating
Investigators: Sunthankar, Mandar
Small Business: IonEdge Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through March 1, 1999
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The IonEdge Corporation has successfully developed and commercialized its patented "zero-waste" dry plating technology under the EPA SBIR program. The purpose of this SBIR project is to apply the same zero-waste principles and develop a new technique to plate hard chromium.The main emphasis of this effort is to plate chromium efficiently and economically without using liquid chemicals and generating fumes. Consequently, a unique process combination for depositing chromium has been utilized. This method will allow rapid plating of chromium for growing thick coatings in a reasonably short period of time. Experiments will be conducted to determine the optimum process conditions under which chromium could be plated efficiently. Subsequently, the physical properties of the coatings will be studied and compared with conventional hard chrome. An internationally recognized American research institute with expertise in the appropriate area will participate and assist in conducting the proposed research.