Nonpolluting replacement for chromate conversion coating and zinc phosphate in powder coating applications
This article summarizes a study about Picklex R, a proprietary formulation claimed to be an alternative to conventional metal surface pretreatments. EPA and Battelle researchers developed a laboratory program to compare the product with conventional metal pretreatment processes.
This was done by using steel and aluminum panels and by measuring product coating properties, process operability, and costs. Researchers tested 41 combinations of substrates, degreasers, pretreatments, conversion coatings, and powder coatings to evaluate properties such as coating adhesion, bend, impact resistance, hardness, and corrosion resistance.