research
Decorative Electroplating: Theory to Explain Rapid Corrosion Due to Calcium Chloride ‘Russian Mud’ - The 48th William Blum Lecture
This presentation is the 48th William Blum Lecture, presented at SUR/FIN 2010 in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 14, 2010. In this lecture, Dr. Donald Snyder describes the phenomena behind a new challenge to decorative Cu-Ni-Cr plating, catastrophic corrosion failures involving the use of calcium chloride on Russian highways
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Electrodeposited Inconel and Stellite-like Coatings for Improved Corrosion Resistance in Biocombustors
This work deals with problems in the Third World – namely improving the safety and efficiency of cookstoves used by people around the world. A scalable and economic process is required to apply coatings on low-cost stainless steel substrates for enhanced high temperature corrosion resistance specifically targeted towards biomass combustion apparatus. Cost effective, scalable, and flexible electrodeposition-based coating of various alloys [Ni/Co]-Cr-[Mo/Fe] system, that are able to withstand high temperature corrosion and improve the functional lifetime of existing and next generation bio-combustors components is a desirable technological advancement. Within this context, a wide array of electrolytes and processing parameters were evaluated to develop an ideal alloy coating.
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Direct Metallization for Plating on Plastics
A new combination of copper immersion and autocatalytic copper-(I)-oxide deposition enables lower palladium concentrations in the activator bath, though the amount of copper deposited on the plastic surface can be up to ten times higher compared to its predecessor processes.
Read MoreCrack Formation during Electrodeposition and Post-deposition Aging of Thin Film Coatings - 6th Quarterly Report
This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the sixth quarter of project work (April-June 2017) on this AESF Foundation Research project at the University of Houston. The objective of the work is to study fundamental and practical aspects of crack formation in electrodeposited thin films.
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Defects in Hard Chromium Deposits Part II: Detection, Prevention and Repair
Most defects in various hard chromium deposits arise from defects in the basis metal. These defects may be in the original metal surface or may be caused by preplate finishing. Homogeneous hard chromium deposits can be produced only by eliminating these defects. The final segment of this article describes visual and provocative methods of detecting defects. Also discussed are prevention techniques and repair operations.
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Defects in Hard Chromium Deposits Part I: Causes and Cures
The causes of and remedies for defects in hard chromium deposits are explored in the first of this two-part P&SF article from 1984. Photomicrographs and SEM (scanning electron microscope) photographs will illustrate that most defects in various hard chromium deposits arise from defects in the basis metal. These defects may be in the original metal surface or may be caused by preplate finishing. Homogeneous hard chromium deposits can be produced only by eliminating these defects. Practical suggestions and procedures will be given.
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Can Electroplated Fe-C be an Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Hard Chromium and DLC Coatings?
Electroplated FeC is an efficient surface treatment based on non-aggressive chemicals with a deposition rate of ~20 μm/h at a process temperature of 50°C. The FeC coating is carbide-free and temperature stable up to ~250°C with a hardness of 750 HV, which is comparable to frequently applied hardened steels. The FeC coating has reasonable friction properties and have high affinity towards lubricants because of incorporated amorphous carbon. Hence, for certain applications, the FeC coating might be an interesting wear-protective alternative to hard chromium and to PVD-deposited low-friction diamond-like carbon coatings (DLC’s), which are rather difficult and costly to deposit on larger items.
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Sulfuric / Organic Electrolytes and Total Quality Improvement (TQI) for Present / Future Anodizing Requirements
After the last 12 years of developmental improvements and successful operation in production and selective brush anodizing, we present formulations for the new revised three-part organic acid blend. This ionic active blend detailed here can benefit all sulfuric anodize electrolytes to meet today's more demanding quality, specifications and production requirements.
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Don’t Believe Everything You Hear - The 22nd William Blum Lecture
This article is a re-publication of the 22nd William Blum Lecture, presented at the 68th AES Annual Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 29, 1981.
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Production Schedule Driven Automated Energy Management
Surface finishing line process automation systems are normally designed to optimize production throughput and assure compliance with operating parameters such as time-in-tank. The basic elements of automated energy management on process lines are control of energy consumption in active, standby and inactive states, primarily by ventilation, heating and cooling, agitation and filtration. This paper presents a case study of the new process control model.
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