Session Details

Session 9: Aerospace/Defense/Military Zinc Nickel Advancements

Abstract Number:

101

The benefit of these efforts has led to the design of a closed-loop ‎electrolyte system which allows a ‎dripless localized application of ‎anodic coatings. This technology can also be used with other ‎brush ‎electroplating processes. The benefit to certifying zinc-nickel ‎selective repair technologies is the ‎reduction of toxic chemicals ‎such as cadmium and hexavalent chromium.‎

Topics:

Aerospace/Defense/Military
Corrosion or Wear Deposits/Coatings

Anodizing is a surface finishing process used to increase the thickness, corrosion protection, ‎and ‎wear of a natural oxide layer on the surface of aluminum. Selective anodize allows an ‎area to be ‎anodized without full tank immersion. This is beneficial due to reduced cost, TAT, ‎and the ability to ‎apply or repair an anodic coating without disassembly. The largest set back ‎with the selective ‎anodize process has been the need for a flow-through cathode as well as ‎electrolyte temperature ‎control requirements. These setbacks led to the design of selective ‎electroplating technology ‎improvements (SETI) performed under a recently completed small ‎business innovative research ‎‎(SBIR) project.‎

Similar needs exist for recently NAVAIR-qualified zinc-nickel electroplating processes. ‎NAVAIR has ‎initiated a new SBIR project to certify zinc-nickel selective repair technologies. ‎This SBIR will focus on ‎optimizing corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, and fatigue ‎performance testing. This maintenance ‎technology capability benefits fleet and depot level ‎maintainers for the localized repair of existing ‎zinc-nickel or cadmium coatings. The ‎development and integration of zinc-nickel brush ‎electroplating will play a key role in ‎continuing the reduction of toxic chemicals such as cadmium and ‎hexavalent chromium.‎