Conversion Coating of Magnesium
Magnesium’s growing importance is evident from the broad applications of this material across a multitude of industries, particularly in the automotive and electronics industry. Today, magnesium parts are often plated with chromium alloys containing Cr(6) to protect the surface from corrosion.
As an alternative to using chromium alloys containing toxic Cr(6) the Franz Corporation has developed a conversion coating technology using zirconium fluoride. The properties of zirconium fluoride are comparable to those of traditional chromium applications using Cr(6), but are void of the toxic heavy metal. Critical to the successful application of this type of coating is a pre-treated surface In this instance as well, we do not use chromium acid, so that Cr(6) is fully eliminated from the process.
Conversion coating has a conductive surface and provides excellent grounding for the adhesiveness of paints and varnishes, such as e-coat etc. This type of coating finds broad usage in the automotive, electronics, mobile phone and telecommunications industry.
