MMS Blog
Finishing Activity Closing at 47.7 for the Second Month in a Row
After slowing contraction for each of four months straight, Finishing activity leveled off in April. The scenario is similar across manufacturing segments, perhaps reflecting increased conservatism as interest rates and inflation fail to come down.
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Dirt in the Powder Coated Film
Rodger Talbert shares how to identify dirt showing up on powder-coated film and where it comes from.
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With Electrochemical Additive Manufacturing (ECAM), Cooling Technology Is Advancing by Degrees
San Diego-based Fabric8Labs is applying electroplating chemistries and DLP-style machines to 3D print cold plates for the semiconductor industry in pure copper. These complex geometries combined with the rise of liquid cooling systems promise significant improvements for thermal management.
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Electroplating in the Context of Worldwide Nanotechnology Initiatives: A Heritage Paper
In the first part, a summary is presented on recently established nanotechnology initiatives in various countries around the world. Program funding levels and core activities will be compared to provide a basis for assessing business opportunities for various industries. The second part of the paper looks at specific examples of nanostructures made by electrochemical methods currently at various stages in their development, or already in use.
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Proper Chemical Handling for Plating
Every year, improper chemical handling in industrial environments leads to injury and significant financial loss. Read about how to stay safe.
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From TGIC-Based Polyester Powder Coating to TGIC-Free Alternative
Users should be aware of differences in application performance, cure response and coating performance before making the change from a traditional TGIC polyester powder coating to a TGIC-free alternative.
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Conferences, Trade Shows, Tours and Events
Products Finishing rounds up some of its recent travels — from international trade shows to facility tours to legislative meetings regarding environmental regulations affecting the finishing community.
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NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #120: Electrochemical Destruction of Perfluorooctanesulfonate in Electroplating Wastewaters – January – December 2023
This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers quarterly reporting for the year 2023 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The objective of this work is to utilize a cost-effective reactive electrochemical membrane (REM) for the removal of PFAS from synthetic electroplating wastewater. Discussed here are the oxidation of PFOA with three different catalysts, development of a method for detecting PFAS, as well as work on 6:2-fluorotelomersulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) and electrodeposited bismuth/tin oxide catalysts.
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NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing - 15th Quarterly Report
This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the twelfth quarter of project work (October-December 2023) at Wayne State University in Detroit. In this period, our main effort focused on the development of a set of Digital Twins (DTs) using the Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) technology with application on parts rinsing simulation.
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Innovation in Plating on Plastic
Plating on advanced plastics solution offers improved adhesion, temperature resistance and cost savings.
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Practical Observations in Surface Chemistry and Boundary Layer Control to Enable Scalable Electrochemical Operation - The 57th William Blum Lecture
This paper is based on the 57th William Blum Memorial Lecture at SUR/FIN 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio on June 8, 2023, by Dr. Tim Hall, recipient of the 2023 NASF Scientific Achievement Award. It focuses on the practical effects of controlling the boundary and surface chemistry on a wide range of electrochemical applications. After a brief introduction to the concept and principles of surface and boundary layer properties during electrochemical processes, the use of this approach in controlling various physical properties during electroplating and electrochemical finishing is discussed, including controlling coating stress and metal composition, as well as enabling simple water-based electrolytes to polish passive or complex materials.
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NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #123: Electrochemical Manufacturing for Energy Applications – 8th Quarterly Report
The NASF-AESF Foundation Research Board selected a project on electrodeposition toward developing low-cost and scalable manufacturing processes for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysis cells for clean transportation and distributed power applications. This report covers the 8th quarter of work (October-December 2023, continuing work on 3D printing anode support for solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers. Work involved the effect of sintering temperature on the amount of porosity and grain size in 3D printed yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ).
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