'ECOCHROM': Eco-efficient and high performance hard chrome process

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0022

Key words (English)

Economic Aspects; Environmental Protection; Industrial Manufacture; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Safety

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G1RD-CT-2002-00718

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.1 Innovative products, processes and organization

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

Electrolytic hard chrome-plating is the most used wear resistant process for engineering industries, aeronautic, steel-or paper-makers. The major drawback is that it uses CrVI classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency of Searchon Cancer. The likely banning of CR VI in the years to come and need of success ful-coatings opened the way to interesting, expensive and difficult replacement techniques, often impossible on big parts. That is why electrolytic chrome-plating will remain the process of choice with two conditions: provide guarantees to employees and environment; compete with techniques of replacement in terms of performance. The object of the proposal is to study and develop processes allowing obtaining thick chromium coatings, more successful than the traditional ones, from a new and non toxic electrolytic solution. Developed processes will be applicable to chromium platters without major modifications of installations.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0022