Conversion to Zirconium Pretreatment
We’re considering conversion of our washer from iron phosphate to a new zirconium product. We’ve been told it will save energy and reduce maintenance with no loss of performance. Is that true?
Q. We’re considering conversion of our washer from iron phosphate to a new zirconium product. We’ve been told it will save energy and reduce maintenance with no loss of performance. Is that true? What things do we need to look for as far as the washer is concerned to make sure we can run this new product? B.A.
A. In general, the transitional metal products that include zirconium oxide do save energy and reduce maintenance. They do not need heat, and they do not generate significant sludge. You should be aware of several issues. You must have stainless steel tanks, pumps and tunnel. These products require very clean substrates, so make sure you have excellent cleaning with oil removal or solids removal if you have a lot of oil or grit. Rinsing is critical, because alkalinity will cause major problems in the treatment tank. Two rinses are better than one. These are the critical issues.
Talk to your chemical supplier and do some testing. I think you will find it is a real benefit.
Related Content
-
Solar-Powered Photonic Cooling Enables Energy-Saving Coating
Passive cooling technology can reduce interior temperatures 5-13°C, offering weight, cost and CO2 benefits for cars, construction, aircraft and more.
-
Spatial Coating Thickness Measurement Solution for Prismatic Battery Cells
Coatmaster AG’s 3D noncontact coating thickness measurement system employs ATO technology to provide spatial measurement of coating thickness.
-
NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #122: Electrochemical Approaches to Treatment of PFAS in Plating Wastewater - 10th Quarterly Report
The NASF-AESF Foundation Research Board selected a project addressing the problem of PFAS and related chemicals in plating wastewater streams. This report covers the 10th quarter of work (April-June 2023). Here, we examine the effect of surface fluorination of Ti4O7 anodes on PFAS degradation performance in terms of energy performance as well as formation of chlorate and perchlorate when chloride is present in the solution. The full paper on this work can be accessed and printed at short.pfonline.com/NASF24Feb2.
