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Crosslink, a developer of electroactive polymers, has announced a joint venture with Wayne Pigment Corp. to commercialize hexavalent chromium-free corrosion inhibitor pigments for military and industrial applications.
Patented Inhibitor Technology
The new venture, called CW Technologies, was formed several weeks after Crosslink obtained a patent May 3 for its non-chromate corrosion inhibitor technology. Over the past decade, Milwaukee-based Wayne Pigment has procured several patents for hybrid inhibitor pigment technologies to be used in aerospace coatings.
Crosslink, based in St. Louis, MO, develops electrochemistry- and polymer science-based technologies for commercialized product and system applications across several disciplines, including performance coatings.
‘Smart’ Coatings
“We are excited to collaborate with Wayne Pigment Corp. in this joint venture, and believe it will facilitate rapid acceptance and deployment of our reliable, high-performance corrosion inhibition pigment technology solutions,” said Gary Krall, CEO of Crosslink.
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Crosslink |
| A Crosslink scientist tests a “smart coating” in a salt fog machine. |
“Together with Wayne Pigment, we are bringing to market truly innovative and ‘smart’ coating systems that not only effectively combat corrosion, but also eliminate concerns over the toxic properties of traditionally used corrosion inhibitor products.”
“Our joint venture with Crosslink represents a game-changing advancement in making safe, reliable non-chromate corrosion inhibition solutions available to government and industry,” said Michael Denesha, CEO of Wayne Pigment.
“We look forward to executing our pigment manufacturing and commercialization strategy, as well as to identifying other key partners for this initiative from within the coatings industry.”
Tightening Regulations
Hexavalent chromium, and to a lesser extent trivalent chromium compounds, are tightly controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act; Resource Conservation Recovery Act; and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) / Superfund, as well as by OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
In addition, an April 8, 2009, a Department of Defense Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments reports “serious human health and environmental risks related to” the use of hexavalent chromium and urges the military “to more aggressively mitigate the unique risks to DOD operations now posed by hexavalent chromium.”
And a May 5, 2011, Defense Federal Acquisitions Regulations Supplement (DFARS) noted: "It is DOD policy to minimize hexavalent chromium” use as an anti-corrosive in deliverables and construction materials.
Coatings Partners Sought
The new joint venture “aims to address these and other mandates via a commercialized coatings solution incorporating both companies’ non-chromate pigment technologies,” the partners said in a statement.
They cite a chromate-free product developed by Crosslink that they say “has been third-party tested by Boeing Research & Technology and Spirit AeroSystems.” Another product has undergone third-party outdoor marine testing by The Battelle Institute, they say.
The companies are seeking partnerships within the coatings industry to develop optimized conversion coat, primer and top coat formulations.
Initial coatings applications include those related to military, commercial and general aviation. Longer-range plans involve a variety of military and commercial aircraft and vehicles, and industrial and infrastructure applications.
For more information, visit www.crosslinkusa.com or contact Crosslink at 636.349.0050 or info@crosslinkusa.com.
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