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49720
Nano-ceramic on aluminium (aluminum)
[Hungary]
August 19, 2008
Hi I'm an factory development manager based in Hungary, my
background is mainly in subcontract, around twenty years around small
metal shops with some exposure to powder coating and wet
painting.
We have a conventional light iron phosphate (single stage phosphate
and two rinses stages) we are starting to process aluminium die cast
components and at the moment these are being prepared by sand
blasting. This is a cost and extra operation we could do without and
seems like overkill for indoor painted products so we would like to
explore alternatives. In the plant up until now they have processed
indoor aluminium products with no additional pre-treatment, I'm just
not comfortable powder coating (epoxy-poly and poly) straight onto
what would be basically washed aluminium.
My instinct is to go with the option of adding Fluoride to the iron
phosphate, but we process mainly steel so this brings a few problems
with tank PH being low.
The alternative offered by our supplier is a room temperature
nano-ceramic product on top of Iron Phosphate (as a wash and prep).
I'm working through my contacts but thought I'd ask here as the site
has a US following and I know nano-tech coatings are reasonably well
known over there. Does anyone process aluminium die cast component
with nano-tech products. I'm concerned that nano-technology is
currently the Iphone v1 at the moment and performance and
environmental issues will become apparent over time so I'm looking
for any experience in real world situations rather than products and
processes picked for me by a potential supplier.
Finally does anyone have experience of NT only systems, I could see
this being easier to sell as we could make some savings on energy and
waste treatment costs? At the moment our supplier is skeptical about
this option for us due to the variability in the surface prep on our
components (die cast alu, stainless fab., black metal fab., punched,
laser cut, spinning, polished, zintec, alu sheet and
extrusion).
Any help or information would be appreciated.
George Peattie
Factory Development - Tamasi, Hungary

First of two simultaneous responses -- August 20, 2008
Nano tech is also quite ripe in Europe. The latest tech is
waterborne nano coatings offering environmentally and personnel
friendly materials. This strain of nano coatings can be used as
"stand alone" weather protective coating for ferrous and non ferrous
substrates. Films of <2 microns are being applied to aluminium
sheeting are being used in the refurbishment of some of the very well
known landmarks across Europe. From the same family one can produce
"finger-print less" for metal, ceramic and glass substrates. Another
feature would be their ability to produce anti-graffiti
coatings.
The same technology will also produce a primer (2 microns) that will
CHEMICALLY bond to the substrate which in turn acts as an adhesion
and weather enhancement primer for over-coating with a polyester
powder.
Due to its outstanding adhesion to all metals these materials seem to
offer the coating industry a new avenue to evaluate that their use
will offer improvement of the environment and are perfectly safe in
their use.
Note: Ideal for PC as they require 180-200C cure.
Second of two simultaneous responses -- August 21, 2008
Dear sir,
presently we are using zinc phospating (pre treratment) process
before black painting. can we change the from zinc to nano process
what are the advantages and disadvantages.
Bhaskra Rao
paint shop - Hyderabad, Ancdhara Pradesh, India

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