Cold spray is one of the many names for describing a solid-state coating process that uses a high-speed gas jet to accelerate powder particles toward a substrate whereby metal particles plastically deform and consolidate upon impact. The term “cold spray” refers to the relatively low process temperature involved—which is typically much lower than the melting point of the spray material. 08 January 2010
When budgeting for new finishing equipment or upgrading an existing line, it is important to note that each requirement is unique and must be carefully considered before arriving at an accurate estimate. In this feature, Jim Sutherland, sales manager for CJI Process Systems, describes several key considerations in the equipment selection process. 03 December 2009
The U.S. EPA has developed new requirements to reduce air pollution from plating and polishing facilities. Shaikh Tayeb and Tapan Das, from the Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, discuss the new compliance and reporting requirements, in addition to providing suggestions on how to cost-effectively minimize your facility's emissions. Links and downloads to helpful compliance documents are also provided. 19 November 2009
Drew Amorosi, managing editor of Metal Finishing, recently caught up with Dr. Manik Roy and Dr. Janet Peace of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change to discuss the climate change legislation making its way through Congress. One fact is clear from the conversation: Whether it’s via Congress, the states, or the EPA, the regulation of greenhouse gasses is very much on the horizon here in the United States, if not already upon us. The question for the business and manufacturing community is by which method and from what source will regulation emerge, and what system will be the least harmful to business conditions? 11 November 2009
In June of 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established national reactivity-based emission standards for 170 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in aerosol coating products. This aerosol coatings reactivity rule aims to encourage reformulation of aerosol coatings to reduce ground-level ozone formation. The rule specifies reactivity limits for 36 aerosol product categories. The 170 VOCs are ranked by their reactivity factor (RF, units in grams of ozone per gram of VOC). VOCs with a high RF are more likely to form ozone, an air pollutant, than VOCs with a lower RF. 05 November 2009
Investing in the business—and its people—pays big dividends for C.R. Hudgins Plating, a 60-year-old operation based in Lynchburg, Va. 19 August 2009
Surface finishers nationwide were recently provided an opportunity to exhale a great sigh of relief—at least, for shop owners and managers to be certain. On Feb. 23, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the revised hexavalent chromium permissible exposure limit established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2006. The suit was brought forth by, among others, interest group Public Citizen, which sought an even lower PEL for operations subject to hexavalent chromium exposure. The plaintiffs in this case contended that the OSHA PEL established in 2006 did not go far enough in limiting workers’ exposure to hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen. 15 May 2009
On July 23, 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a new regulation that regulates air emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from nine metal fabrication and finishing source categories. This rule, promulgated as 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 63, Subpart XXXXXX (“6X”), is another in a series of regulations that addresses emissions of HAPs from “area sources.” Unlike many other subparts to 40 CFR Part 63 that regulate the entire list of HAPs, 6X specifically regulates only emissions of compounds of cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel from nine specific source categories. 18 March 2009
The National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) is offering members valuable assistance in deciphering Europe’s complex regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals—otherwise referred to by the acronym, “REACH.” The regulation—which went into effect in June 2007—aims to streamline a preceding legislative framework on chemicals by the European Union (EU). Among REACH’s main objectives: improve the protection of human health and the environment from the potential risks posed by chemicals; promote alternative test methods; support the free circulation of substances on the internal market; and enhance competitiveness and innovation. 03 November 2008
Alan Ensign, vice president and general manager of Wyandotte, Mich.–based Cadon Plating & Coatings, is no stranger to trying times. When the company abandoned the commodity-driven rack plating business years ago, revenues took a 30% hit. Then in in 1994, government regs forced its exodus from the cadmium plating market and, much later, the olive-drab business. As a result of that move, 25% of sales vaporized—just like that. If those setbacks weren’t enough, the company lost once-steady business when the U-bolt suppliers for several major auto suppliers installed their own paint lines, essentially cutting out Cadon completely. 15 May 2007
Controlling and minimizing pollutant emissions is critical for meeting air quality regulations. This article provides a basic primer on an important pollutant emission referred to as nitric oxides, or NOx. This regulated contaminant is formed in nearly all combustion reactions. This includes fired equipment such as heaters, dryers, and furnaces. 10 November 2006
With compliance deadlines for new environmental regulations fast approaching or already in effect, surface finishers are challenged to manage the transition to alternative coating materials and away from hexavalent chromium. 03 April 2006
Christian Richter, founder of The Policy Group, said recently that there are two key regulatory issues that bear watching closely if you are a finisher: "The fact that we have more—not fewer—regulations coming at us over the next few years," and second, "They're coming at us from more places." 14 March 2006
Environmentalists, community leaders, labor representatives, local and national politicians—everyone, it seems, points the finger of blame at hexavalent chromium, accusing the substance of causing everything from groundwater contamination, soil and crop pollution, to human cancer and loss of business to overseas job shops. 08 March 2005
A proposed government regulation designed to protect workers from exposure to hexavalent chromium carries a potentially dangerous side effect. Chrome plating employers contend the ruling would bankrupt half the industry and force other companies to relocate to countries where environmental laws are less strict. 01 January 2005
Although 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, nearly all of it is contaminated with salt and therefore inappropriate for most uses. 30 November 2004
In part I of this column, I showed how common open-top vapor degreasers can fail if used with solvent blends. The reason is the vapor produced from most binary solvent blends becomes enriched in the most volatile of the two components. If that vapor escapes from the degreaser via any means, the bath becomes depleted of that most volatile component and the composition becomes a pure component that is the least volatile. 12 November 2004
It is very unlikely that many newly developed cleaning solvents will be introduced in the coming years. The reasons include: the costs are too great; the expected return is too small; and limitations of chemistry make the chance of success in providing a perfect solvent too low. Other than those reasons, we’ll all be developing new solvents. Yet that doesn’t mean those doing solvent cleaning will have to make due with currently available and occasionally imperfect offerings. 09 November 2004
The efficacy, convenience, and cost effectiveness of vapor corrosion inhibiting (VCI) packaging products have made their application for rust control almost universal in automotive, machine tools, aerospace, electronics, power generation, and the military. As with all industrial chemical products, however, the increased usage of VCI products has also raised significant scientific interest as to their health and safety. 02 November 2004
The use of volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs) within the metal finishing industry presents two generally unrecognized health and performance problems. VCIs have been used to prevent corrosion since World War II yet have had little risk analysis. Although many of the benefits of VCIs have been published, VCIs’ darker side is only now becoming known. 02 November 2004
Paint solvents and other airborne chemicals classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are undesirable air pollutants because they have unpleasant odors and contribute to the formation of smog. Federal, state, and local regulations limit the amount of these chemicals emitted from manufacturing facilities; so many industries must abate these VOCs. 18 October 2004
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