Hexavalent Chromium Reduction in the Aerospace Industry

Abstract

AIA and its members have a long history in minimizing the use of hexavalent chromium in the manufacture of its products. Included in that history are the results of over 25 years of working with DoD engineering professionals through a variety of projects to test hexavalent chromium product replacements. Hexavalent chromium test data have been shared among companies within the industry since the early 1980s. Success in replacement use occurred for some sealant, primer, and plating applications. The industry continues to evaluate replacements for conversion coating, anodizing, descaling, passivation plating, cleaning and many other process and materials applications. Through the many individual company and joint research and testing programs, AIA members learned that the development and implementation of hexavalent chromium replacement compounds is exceptionally complex. Certification and qualification testing continues for many applications due to unique customer or weapon system requirements. Implementation of replacements are often hindered by cost and technical risks to a product's other system requirements. With increasing regulatory and public pressure to further reduce hexavalent chromium usage, the aerospace industry continues to seek alternatives.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA553979

Entities

People

  • Lisa Goldberg

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Industry
  • Aluminum Alloys
  • Anodizing
  • Best Practices
  • Chemistry
  • Chromium
  • Climate Change
  • Coatings
  • Conversion
  • Engineering
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Metals
  • Performance Tests
  • Standards
  • Weapon Systems
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).
  • Surface Coatings Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Space