Non-Chromate Surface Protection for Aircraft Maintenance

Abstract

While chromates as anti-corrosion pigments in primers and wash primers have disappeared in most industries, there are still quite a lot of chromated paints used in the aircraft industry. Intensive efforts to develop alternative pre-treatments to chromate conversion coatings and to chromic acid anodization have begun. The intention of this report is to give an overview of the state-of-the-art techniques about such pre-treatment/coating systems of aluminium for aircraft maintenance, which are in accordance with the latest environmental policies. The objective is to evaluate the combination of surface pre-treatment and paint as a whole.