PVD coating solutions for hard chrome and PFAS replacement

Looking for non-toxic alternatives for hard chrome plating and PTFE coatings?

So have we! At Ionbond, we have developed PVD recipes that can provide a viable alternative to these common coatings, even in highly regulated industries like the aerospace sector. Sounds interesting? Read our article and let’s meet up at the Farnborough International Airshow to discuss your application.

PVD films as a ‘green’ alternative to electroplating and PFAS

Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are commonly used in the application of specialty coatings, such as hard chromium (HCP) and PTFE (Teflon) coatings, to modify the surface properties of various parts used in industrial machinery. These coatings are widely used for protection against wear or corrosion, reduction of friction losses and providing special surface properties such as water repellency or electrical insulation.

Because of the environmental and health effects of these substances, there is increasing regulation of their industrial use. While the nature of the hazards is different for Cr6+ and PFAS, what they have in common is that they pollute the environment and present health risks for humans. There is a growing consensus that use of these substances will soon be either banned or severely restricted by governmental regulations in most developed countries. That means we need alternatives to these widely used coatings.

Different technologies can provide much of the same protection

To replace HCP in applications where wear and corrosion protection are needed, alternatives exist that have no environmental impact and health hazards: physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) coatings. They provide excellent wear resistance, reduced friction, and enhanced hardness. These coatings are typically harder than chrome plating and can be engineered to offer specific properties like:

Enhanced corrosion resistance

Higher adhesion strength

Tailored surface characteristics

PVD and PACVD can also be used to replace PTFE-based films, providing friction reduction, corrosion protection, water repellency and electrical insulation, with zero or minimal environmental impact.

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Developments especially important for the aerospace industry

This restriction on the use of PFAS and Cr6+ will cause tremendous problems for the aerospace industry in particular. Many companies are proactively looking for suitable alternatives. For instance, Airbus: one of the first aircraft manufacturers to include PVD and PACVD coatings into their list of approved manufacturing processes, known as AIPS (Airbus Incorporated Process Specification). They were originally looking into these coatings to increase the performance of their components, but easily accepted them as very handy replacements for environmentally challenging ones. Ionbond is happy to work with more companies in the aerospace sector for their HCP and PTFE replacement projects.

Ionbond – hard chrome and PFAS replacement experts

Ionbond has substantial experience in offering these coating solutions with no environmental impact, including for the aerospace industry. With this experience, we know that there is no universal coating that can replace HCP or PTFE on all applications. Therefore, we use a case-by-case approach, with careful application analysis. It is the only way to recommend potential alternatives.

To navigate through the application details and enable this analysis, Ionbond engineers created a special questionnaire, see below. It compiles all necessary information to help us select a suitable coating. Once we analyze this information, we can propose suitable alternatives, usually followed by trials. Through our experience with HCP and PTFE replacement projects, we have developed several customized versions of our standard coatings, that are more suitable as HCP or PTFE replacement.

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Looking for a coating solution for hard chrome replacement?

Complete and submit our questionnaire for a customized replacement solution tailored to the unique requirements of your application.

Questionnaire

Dr. Val Lieberman

Global Segment Manager Industrial Components

Come see us at Farnborough International Airshow!

In short, PVD and PACVD coatings are a viable replacement for HCP and PFAS-based coatings in the aerospace industry.

Are you attending FIA from 22-26 July 2024? Make sure to stop by our booth 3934 in hall 3. We would be happy to discuss thebenefits of PVD and PACVD in terms of environmental safety, regulatory compliance, performance, and cost-efficiency. We are confident that, as the industry continues to prioritize sustainability and regulatory compliance, the adoption of these coatings is expected to grow. Come talk to us if you want to be a driver of innovation and improvement in aerospace technology. Our specialists will be happy to recommend a suitable ‘green’ coating solution, tailored for your specific application.

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