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Chromate-Free Coating Protects Alloys

Monday, January 2, 2012

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Nanomaterials developer NEI Corp. has launched a corrosion-resistant, self-healing coating for magnesium alloys.

Chromate-free Nanomyte PT-60 is a waterborne conversion coating designed to provide significant, active corrosion protection though only a few micrometers thick.

NEI Corp.

In salt-fog exposure experiments, magnesium AZ91D panels coated with self-healing Nanomyte PT-60 showed minimal corrosion pitting after 10 days, the manufacturer said.

According to NEI, the coating has the ability to repair itself if scratched or damaged, thus imparting continuous corrosion protection.

In salt-fog exposure experiments (ASTM B117), magnesium AZ91D panels coated only with Nanomyte PT-60 showed minimal corrosion pitting after 10 days, while the same panels with conventional pretreatments began to pit after 24 hours, NEI said.

Protecting Magnesium Alloys

Lightweight magnesium alloys offer the potential for greater fuel efficiency and energy savings than heavier metal, making them the subject of increasing interest to the military and to the automotive, construction, communication and other industries. However, magnesium alloys have a high tendency to corrode.

NEI says Nanomyte PT-60 offers a drop-in replacement for chromate. The product can be applied as a standalone barrier layer to protect the metal from exposure to corrosive liquids or gases, or as a pretreatment that improves adhesion with overlying paint layers.

“Our chromate-free, self-healing conversion coating for magnesium alloys represents a significant advancement in the state of the art,” said Dr. Fred Allen, president of the Anticorrosion Coatings Division at NEI Corp.

“The market-focused activities of NEI are key to serving the needs of customers who require high-performance anticorrosion coatings. Our goal is to engage customers as partners in developing new self-healing coating products.”

Continuing Development

Nanomyte PT-60 is currently available commercially. Depending on customer feedback and evolving applications, however, the initial formulation may be modified to meet specific needs, NEI said.

The product is part of NEI’s efforts to develop environmentally friendly, self-healing coating systems to protect steel, aluminum and magnesium from corrosion.

The development of Nanomyte PT-60 was supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and a contract from the U.S. Army. NEI is continuing to develop other anticorrosion coatings for lightweight metals with the Army’s Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) Corrosion Protection and Control Group, located at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

Founded in 1997 and based in Somerset, NJ, NEI develops, manufacture, and distributes protective coatings and other nanoscale materials for a broad range of industrial customers around the world.

More information: www.neicorporation.com/.