Articles
40 Under 40: Class of 2022
Products Finishing announces this year’s 40-Under-40 award recipients. The annual program recognizes emerging leaders working to forward the surface finishing industry.
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Improving the Wear Performance of Functional Trivalent Chromium Plating Via Pulse-Reverse Electrodeposition
This paper covers work on improving the wear performance of a functional chromium coating from a trivalent chromium plating bath. Wear resistance is a critical aspect of chromium coatings when used in components of both ground-based and aerospace vehicle systems. Traditional hexavalent chromium coatings have shown exceptional wear resistance in these applications, while the wear resistance of trivalent chromium coatings has been less satisfactory. Using pulse-reverse electrodeposition to control various characteristics of the chromium coating, the wear performance of trivalent chromium plated panels could be improved. A multivariate regression model of the electrodeposition conditions shows that bath chemistry parameters within the range of viable plating are not a large contributor to the variance in wear performance, while the roughness and size of macro-cracks is very important for wear-related applications. The multivariate analysis approach undertaken in this study may find potential applications in broad areas of the plating and finishing industry.
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Celebrating the Experts of Surface Finishing
From recent events like Powder Coating Week to virtual celebrations like National Surface Finishing Day, a sense of optimism for the future of surface finishing is palpable.
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Straightforward Success
2022 Top Shop Valley Plating’s Black Oxide Operation Keeps it Simple
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Using Ion Exchange in Trivalent Chromium Systems
Shane Moore of Pavco discusses the role of ion exchange technology in trivalent chromium systems for maintaining a consistent deposit.
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Color and Quality in Powder Coating
Diverse and customized powder coating colors can give you a competitive edge.
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NASF's SUR/FIN 2022 Is Just Around the Corner
For the surface finishing industry, opportunities to learn, network and connect are abundant at SUR/FIN 2022.
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Celebrating Women's History Month Through Manufacturing
Several editors across sister publications of Gardner Business Media share their thoughts and experiences being a woman in manufacturing.
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Mineral Acids for Activation vs. Acid Salt
Advantages of replacing mineral acid with acid salt for pickling.
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Modeling and Simulation for the Finishing Industry - the 55th William Blum Memorial Lecture
As Dr. Keith Legg, 2019 recipient of the NASF Scientific Achievement Award, watched the changes in industry over the past decade or so, he has seen modeling and simulation move from one industry to another. Seeing how and where it is used elsewhere, he concludes that modeling could be more widely and profitably used in the surface finishing industry. In his Blum lecture, he discusses how modeling for surface finishing is a recognized approach today. It is proving to be very useful for plating and some finishing processes and is finding new uses as it develops, but there is a lot to learn. The aim is to make modeling a standard, integrated approach to coating development and corrosion protection.
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AESF Research Projects and Some Related Results (2005)
The NASF and AESF Foundation have been funding research projects in surface finishing for nearly a century. Not only have basic questions and new technologies been addressed, but numerous students have been introduced to and have made careers in our industry. This is well illustrated by the examples of projects undertaken at Penn State University, as described in Dr. Pickering’s 45th William Blum Lecture from 2005. Such successes continue today in our current research program.
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Innovation in Electroless Nickel
Experimentation defines electroless nickel technology company that prides itself on trying new things and testing new products.
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