Nonchromated Treatment for Aluminum Surfaces

AFRL scientists and engineers recently completed development of a nonchromated treatment for aluminum aircraft surfaces and structures. The new treatment method is the result of a collaborative effort between AFRL, Boeing Phantom Works, and the Aeronautical Systems Center's Aging Aircraft Systems Squadron (ASC/AASS). The development of a non-chromatebased aluminum conversion coating fulfills one of several Air Force (AF) initiatives intended to provide aircraft manufacturers and maintainers with an environmentally safe corrosion protection method. Conversion coating is a metal finishing process that involves the application of a coating to a base metal to increase corrosion resistance and prepare the surface for additional coatings.