Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
    • RESOURCES
      • Columns
        • Ask Joe Powder
        • Did you know?
        • Distribution Dive
        • Focus on Canada
        • Formulating With Mike
        • Innovation Insights
        • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
        • Powder Coating Perspectives
        • Target the Market
        • TiO2 Insider
      • Blogs
        • Editor's Viewpoint
        • Industry Insights
      • Coatings Supplier Handbook
      • Podcasts and Videos
        • COAT-IT! Podcast
        • Videos/PCI TV
      • PCI Store
      • Classifieds
      • eBooks
      • Sponsor Insights
      • White Papers
      • COATLE Word Game
    • EVENTS
      • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
      • Paint and Coatings Academy
      • Webinars
      • Calendar of Events
      • Lifetime Achievement Award
    • DIRECTORIES
      • Buyer's Guide
      • Equipment Directory
      • Materials Directory
    • EMAGAZINE
      • Current Issue
      • eMagazine Archive
      • China Issue Archive
      • Editorial Advisory Board
    • CONTACT
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe to eMagazine
      • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    FT Archives

    PLATING SOLUTIONS: Pat Plater Responds

    By Kathe Mayer
    January 1, 2008
    Hard chrome (Cr+6) provides hardness, corrosion protection and a low coefficient of friction for aircraft landing gear. However, hard chrome plating baths have to meet strict regulations from both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). OSHA may limit Cr+6 to .05, which will require more equipment and expense for the plater. New high-tech materials may be a better way to handle aircraft parts.

    Dear Pat,
    Is there an alternative to hard chrome for aircraft landing gear parts that doesn’t compromise performance?
    --John

    Hi John,
    Hard chrome (Cr+6) provides hardness, corrosion protection and a low coefficient of friction for aircraft landing gear. However, hard chrome plating baths have to meet strict regulations from both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). OSHA may limit Cr+6 to .05, which will require more equipment and expense for the plater. In addition, hard chrome plating baths require the proper ventilation, and the bath makeup must be monitored to make sure the right amount of catalyst is present or no plating will occur.

    The Hard Chrome Alternatives Team (HCAT), a bi-national team comprising a U.S. team concentrating on replacing chrome plating in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) repair depots, and a Canadian team working primarily to replace chrome on commercial and military aircraft landing gear, is working on high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray as a replacement. Currently landing gear is undergoing validation, and other assemblies will follow.

    Meanwhile, nanotechnology is providing other alternatives. PComP™, manufactured by Powdermet Inc., is a low-cost and environmentally friendly nanocomposite substitute for hard chrome. The metal-ceramic composite particles provide an optimum blend of the high wear and hardness associated with nanocrystalline ceramic materials with the ductility and toughness of metal binders. Powdermet’s studies show that nanotechnology is making coatings stronger, lighter and more wear resistant. Andrew Sherman, the company’s president, says, “Nanotechnology is taking the concept of ‘green’ from marketing gimmick to reality.”

    Another nanotechnology-based option is nanoPLATE®, manufactured by Integran. These nanostructured metal coatings have properties that reportedly meet or exceed those of hard chrome (wear resistance, corrosion resistance and coeffecient of friction). The company says that the technology produces a fully dense coating without microcracks, excellent corrosion protection (with no nickel underlay), superior ductility, low sliding wear and a low coefficient of friction.

    Other coatings designed to replace hard chrome are also under development. These new high-tech materials may be a better way to handle those aircraft parts.


    For more information about HCAT, visit www.hcat.org. Powdermet’s website is at www.powdermetinc.com, and Integran’s website is at www.integran.com.


    Pat Plater is a regular feature of Finishing Today magazine. Send your questions to kathe@mayer.ldmi.net.

    Share This Story

    Looking for a reprint of this article?
    From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

    Pat Plater (Kathe Mayer) has been involved with the plating industry for more than 20 years in a variety of capacities, including selling equipment and supplies. She has served as chair of the AESF X-Ray Fluorescence Committee and was the editor of XRF Shop Guide Quality Control with X-Ray Fluorescence, published in 1999, which discusses thickness measurement in plating quality control. She also has given public presentations on this topic.

    Recommended Content

    JOIN TODAY
    to unlock your recommendations.

    Already have an account? Sign In

    • PCI-0724-Global10-Feature-1440.png

      2024 Global Top 10: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

      Who ranks on top? PCI’s annual ranking of the top 10...
      Paint and Coating Market Reports
      By: Courtney Bassett
    • PCI-0724-PCI25-Feature-1440.png

      2024 PCI 25: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

      PCI's annual ranking of the top 25 North American paint...
      Paint and Coating Market Reports
      By: Courtney Bassett
    • pci1022-Kinaltek-Lead-1170.jpg

      A Novel Pigment Production Technology

      Following an extensive R&D program that demonstrated...
      Paint and Coating Pigments
      By: Jawad Haidar and Nitin Soni
    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Manage My Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Online Registration
    • Subscription Customer Service

    More Videos

    Sponsored Content

    Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

    close
    • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
      Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

      Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

    • paint sprayer in a workshop
      Sponsored byallnex

      Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

    Popular Stories

    No. 3 AkzoNobel

    AkzoNobel to Close Two Manufacturing Sites

    BASF SE Logo

    BASF Reportedly Eyes Exit from Coatings

    Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation



    PCI Buyers Guide

    Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

    Start your RFP

    Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

    Find Suppliers

    Events

    September 3, 2025

    Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

    The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

    January 1, 2030

    Webinar Sponsorship Information

    For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

    View All Submit An Event

    Poll

    Longest-running laboratory experiment

    What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
    View Results Poll Archive

    Products

    CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

    Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

    See More Products
    pci  webinar april 2025

    PCI CASE EBOOK

    Related Articles

    • PLATING SOLUTIONS: Pat Plater Responds

      See More
    ×

    Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

    Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

    JOIN TODAY!
    • RESOURCES
      • Advertise
      • Contact Us
      • Directories
      • Store
      • Want More
    • SIGN UP TODAY
      • Create Account
      • eMagazine
      • eNewsletters
      • Customer Service
      • Manage Preferences
    • SERVICES
      • Marketing Services
      • Reprints
      • Market Research
      • List Rental
      • Survey & Sample
    • STAY CONNECTED
      • LinkedIn
      • Facebook
      • Youtube
      • X (Twitter)
    • PRIVACY
      • PRIVACY POLICY
      • TERMS & CONDITIONS
      • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
      • PRIVACY REQUEST
      • ACCESSIBILITY

    Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing